THE  REPUBLIC 

OF  GUATEMALA 


GUSTAVO  NIEDERLEIN 

CHIBF  OF  THE  SCIENTIFIC  DEPARTMENT 

THE  PHILADELPHIA 
COMMERCIAL  MUSEUM 


• 


UCSB   LIBRARY 


™E  REPUBLIC 

OF  GUATEMALA 


GUSTAVO  NIEDERLEIN 

CHIEF   OF  THE  SCIENTIFIC   DEPARTMENT   OF  THE  PHILADELPHIA  MUSEUMS 


PHILADELPHIA 
1898 


THE  PHILADELPHIA  COMMERCIAL  MUSEUM 


THE 

PHILADELPHIA  MUSEUMS, 

Established  by  Ordinance  of  City  Councils,  1891, 

233  South  Fourth  Street. 


BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES. 

Ex-Offlclo. 

HON.  DANIEL  H.  HASTINGS, 
Governor  of  Pennsylvania. 

HON.  CHARLES  F.  WARWICK, 
Mayor  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia. 

JAMES  L.  MILES, 
President  of  Select  Council. 

WENCEL  HARTMAN, 
President  of  Common  Council. 

SAMUEL  B.  HUEY. 
President  of  the  Board  of  Public  Education. 

DR.  EDWARD  BROOKS, 
Superintendent  of  Public  Schools. 

NATHAN  C.   SCHAEFFER, 

state  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools. 

J.  T.  ROTHROCK,   B.S.,   M.D., 
State  Forestry  Commissioner. 

Permanent  Trustees. 

WILLIAM  PEPPER,   M.D.,   LL.D.,  THOMAS  MEEHAN. 

CHARLES  H.   CRAMP,  DANIEL  BAUGH, 

THOMAS  DOLAN,  W.    W.   POULKROD, 

<5EORGE  F.  EDMUNDS,  FRANK  THOMSON, 

WILLIAM  L.   ELKINS,  JOHN  WANAMAKER, 

MRS.  CORNELIUS  STEVENSON,   Sc.D.,  P.  A.  B.  WIDBNBR, 

SIMON  GRATZ,  SYDNEY  L.  WRIGHT. 


OFFICERS 

OF  THE 

BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES. 

WM.  PEPPER,  M.D.,   LL.D., 
President. 

CHARLES  H.  CRAMP, 
Vice-President. 

SYDNEY  L.  WRIGHT, 
Treasurer. 

WILLIAM  M.  WATTS, 
Secretary. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  MUSEUM. 

WM.  P.  WILSON,  Sc.D., 
Director. 

WILLIAM  HARPER, 
Chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Information. 

C.  A.  GREEN, 
Assistant  Chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Information. 

WILFRED  H.  SCHOFF, 
Foreign    Secretary  of  the   Bureau  of   Information. 

QUSTAVB  NIEDERLEIN, 
Chief  of  the  Scientific  Department. 

WM.  B.  MARSHALL, 
Curator  of  Natural  Products. 

LOUIS  J.  MATOS, 
Chief  of  Laboratories. 


Introduction* 


HIS  monograph  treats  of  the  topography,  geology, 
mineral  wealth  and  soils  of  Guatemala;  it  describes  its 
climate;  it  details  its  flora  and  fauna  with  reference  to  their 
economic  value;  it  displays  the  distribution  of  Guatemalan 
population  according  to  race,  wealth,  communities  and  social 
conditions;  it  examines  the  agricultural  development  of  the 
Republic  including  its  live  stock  and  forests;  and,  finally,  it 
recounts  the  most  important  features  of  its  commerce,  in- 
dustry, finance,  and  of  its  economic  and  political  conditions. 

It  is  made  up  of  observations  and  studies  pursued  in  1897 
and  1898,  during  seven  and  a  half  months  of  economic  and 
scientific  explorations  in  Central  America,  and  of  compilations 
gathered  with  care  from  authoritative  manuscripts,  books  and 
official  documents  and  publications.  Respect  has  been  shown 
to  the  work  of  men  of  originality  in  research  and  thought, 
and  care  has  been  taken  to  adhere  closely  to  the  original  text 
wh^n  either  quoting  or  translating. 


The  Republic  of  Guatemala. 


i. 

TOPOGRAPHY,  GEOLOGY,  MINERAL  WEALTH  AND  SOILS. 

Guatemala  lies  between  13°  42'  and  17°  19'  northern  lati- 
tude and  between  88°  10'  and  92°  30'  longitude,  west  of  Green- 
wich. Its  area  is  calculated  to  be  50,600  square  miles,  or  about 
125,100  square  kilometers.  Its  limits  are  bounded  by  Mexico, 
British  Honduras,  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  State  of  Honduras, 
Salvador  and  the  Pacific  Ocean.  The  Atlantic  coast  is  about 
185  kilometers  long  and  the  Pacific  coast  260  kilometers. 

Guatemala  has  three  great  orographical  zones,  namely: 

1.  A  northern  zone,  which  is  relatively  low,  comprising 
the  larger  part  of  the  Department  of  Peten.     It  consists  of  a 
series  of  elevations  abundant  in  cones  of  denudation,  attaining 
an  altitude  of  400  meters  on  the  southeast  of  San  Felipe,  and 
of  500  on  the  south  of  Tenosigue.     It  is  also  interspersed 
with  plains  of  small  extent,  so  that  it  has  a  mountainous  aspect, 
although  there  are  no  mountains  of  importance. 

2.  A  central  zone,  composed  of  mountain  ranges,  running 
generally  from  west  to  east,  and  divided  into  chains  of  cre- 
taceous and  tertiary'  formations  in  the  north,  and  chains  of 
palaeozoic  and  archaic  formations,  which  begin  in  the  Depart- 


ment  of  Quiche,  pass  into  Baja  Verapaz  and  continue  in  the 
Sierras  of  Las  Minas  or  del  Mico. 

This  zone  has  considerable  elevation,  rising  in  Los  Altos 
Cuchumatanes  (Department  of  Huehuetenango)  to  3,800 
meters;  in  the  mountains  of  Xucaneb  (Department  of  Verapaz) 
2,550  m.;  in  the  intermediary  mountains  of  Pocolpa,  or  Chama, 
1,900  m.;  in  the  mountains  to  the  east  of  the  Hacienda  de 
San  Vicente  to  3,000  m.,  and  in  the  mountains  of  San  Gil, 
eastward  of  Izabal,  to  2,000  m.  All  the  mountains  of  Verapaz 
slope  down  toward  the  east.  Only  a  small  calcareous  chain 
near  Livingston,  on  the  Gulf  of  Amatique,  rises  in  another 
direction  to  a  height  of  350  meters. 

3.  A  southern  zone,  formed  chiefly  by  eruptive  mountain 
chains,  which  culminate  in  volcanoes  like  those  of  Tacana  (4,150 
meters),  Tajamulco  (3,540  m.),  Lacandon.  Cerro  Quemado, 
Santa  Maria,  Zunil,  San  Pedro,  Atitlan,  Toliman,  Cerro  de 
Oro,  Acatenango  (3,906  m.),  Fuego  (4,260  m.),  Agua  (4,120 
m.),  Pacaya  (basalt),  Cerro  Redondo  (basalt),  Tecuamburro, 
Jumaytepeque,  Moyuta,  Chingo,  Amayo,  Culma,  Talmal, 
Suchitan  (basalt),  Itzetepeque  (basalt),  Papalcuapa  (basalt), 
Monterico  (basalt),  Ipala  (basalt),  and  Jumay.  All  volcanoes 
which  are  not  formed  of  basalt  are  of  andesite  rock.  This 
zone  is  generally  called  the  Cordillera  de  los  Andes,  which 
runs  through  the  country  from  northwest  to  southeast  at  a 
distance  of  from  50  to  80  km.  from  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  has 
an  average  height  of  1,950  meters. 

Another  division  of  the  mountain  system  of  Guatemala 
is  as  follows: 

1.  The  Cordillera  de  los  Andes,  parallel  with  the  Pacific 
Ocean. 

2.  The  Sierra  Madre,  beginning  at  the  volcano  of  Tacana 
and  following  an  irregular  line  through  the  Department  of 
Huehuetenango,  Totonicapan  and  Alta  Verapaz,  and  project- 
ing through  British  Honduras  to  the  Atlantic. 

3.  The  Sierra  de  Chama,  a  range  of  the  Sierra  Madre, 
which  passes  from  Verapaz  in  a  tortuous  line  toward  the  east. 

4.  The  Sierra  de  Santa  Cruz,  a  range  starting  from  the 
Sierra  de  Chama,  following  the  direction  of  the  Cahabon  and 


Polochic  Rivers,  and  continuing  north  of  Lake  Izabal  until  it 
disappears  at  the  Gulf  of  Amatique. 

5.  The  Sierra  de  las  Minas  (or  Mico  Mountain),  beginning 
north  of  Coban,  running  thence  between  the  Polochic  and 
Motagua    Rivers,    and   south    of    Lake    Izabal,    and    ending 
between  the  Bay  of  San  Tomas  'and  the.  Motagua  near  the 
Atlantic  coast. 

6.  The  Sierra  de  Copan,  a  spur  of  the  Cordilleras,  crosses 
the  Department  of  Santa  Rosa,  passes  west  of  the  lagoon  of 
Ayarsa,  rises  again  toward  the  north,  makes  a  curve  between 
the  city  of  Esquipulas  and  the  mines  of  Alotepeque,  and 
stretches  to  the  chain  of  mountains  which  separates  Guatemala 
from  Honduras. 

7.  The  mountains   of  Azulco,    Conguaco   and   Moyuta, 
which  form  an  isolated  group  of  the  Cordillera,  culminating  in 
the  volcano  of  Tecuamburro. 

The  principal  river  flowing  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  is  the 
Usamacinta,  and  its  affluents  are  the  Rio  de  las  Salinas,  Rio 
de  la  Pasion  and  Rio  Lacandon.  After  receiving  the  San 
Pedro  this  great  river  takes  the  name  of  Rio  Tabasco  in 
Mexico. 

To  the  Atlantic  Ocean  run  the  Rio  Hondo  and  the  Rio 
Belize.  Into  the  Gulf  of  Honduras,  which  opens  into  the 
same  ocean,  empty  the  Rio  Sarstoon  and  the  Motagua,  as  well 
as  the  River  Dulce,  the  outlet  of  Lake  Izabal,  which  on  its 
part  receives  the  Rio  Polochic. 

Tributaries  of  the  Pacific  Ocean  are  the  Rio  de  Paz,  Rio 
de  los  Esclavos,  Rio  de  Michatoya,  Rio  Guacalate,  Rio  Coya- 
late,  Rio  Patulul,  Rio  Nagualate,  Rio  Samala,  Rio  Tilapa, 
Rio  Naranjo  and  Rio  Suchiate.  All  of  these  have  their  origin 
in  the  Cordillera  de  los  Andes  or  in  the  adjacent  highlands. 
Only  one  river  of  all  the  Pacific  tributaries  is  navigable.  It  is 
the  Rio  Michatoya,  on  which  boats  can  ascend  to  its  con- 
fluence with  the  Maria  Linda. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Atlantic  tributaries  are  nearly  all 
navigable  to  a  certain  extent,  as  the  Rio  Usumacinta,  the  Rio 
de  las  Salinas,  also  called  Rio  Negro  above  a  place  known  as 
Nueve  Cerros;  the  Rio  de  la  Pasion  from  its  confluence  with 
the  Rio  Chajmaita;  the  Rio  Sarstoon,  which  is  the  boundary 


line  between  Belize  and  Guatemala  below  the  rapids  of  Gracias 
a  Dios;  the  Rio  Polochic  below  Panzos;  the  Rio  Motagua 
below  Gualan,  and  the  Rio  Dulce,  as  well  as  Lake  Izabal, 
through  their  entire  extent. 

The  principal  lakes  are: 

Izabal  90km    (58m.)      long,    20  km.  (12%  m  )  wide. 


Peteu  6  Flores  . 
Tezacualpa  .... 
Ay  ana  

4H     ' 
12 
It 

(30m  ) 
(7%m  ) 
(7  '.$  m  ) 

10 
11 
1        12 

(7m.)'' 

(Tl/,  m  ) 

Atitlan  

29 

(18m.) 

'        11 

\  •  /Z  "*  / 

•7m.) 

Ain.it  i  t  Ian  .... 

12 

(71/2  m  ) 

'         4 

•  ('M  m  ) 

Ginia.., 

25 

(12V,  m.) 

'        a 

\"  '2  *"•/ 

(5V£  m.) 

Of  these  there  is  steam  navigation  on  Lakes  Izabal,  Atitlan 
and  Amatitlan. 

The  principal  seaports  are: 

ON   THK  ATLANTIC. 

Liringston,  Puerto  Barrios,  Jzabal  and  Santo  Tomas. 

ON  THE  PACIFIC. 

San  .lost?,  Champerico  and  Ocos. 

The  river  ports  are : 

Iztapa,  Tejocote,  Gualan  and  Panzos. 

As  already  indicated,  a  great  variety  of  characters  is 
shown  in  the  geological  structure  of  Guatemala.  In  the  first 
place,"  the  Quaternary  formation  (alluvium  an<l  diluvium) 
covers  most  of  the  Pacific  coast  from  the  foot  of  the  mountains 
to  the  sea.  The  same  formation  is  also  observed  around 
Guatemala,  Chimaltenango,  Chimalapa,  Chiquimula,  Esqui- 
pulas,  Jalapa,  Pinula,  Puerto  Barrios,  La  Libertad,  and  in  the 
valley  of  the  Rio  de  la  Pasion. 

The  Tertiary  formation,  and  especially  limestone,  covers 
nearly  the  entire  Department  of  Peten.  Besides,  limestones 
and  dolomites  of  the  Upper  Cretaceous  age  are  observed  from 
La  Libertad  and  San  Benito  toward  the  Ustimacinta  River,  and 
toward  British  Honduras,  east  of  San  Luis  and  Santa  Barbara. 
The  surroundings  of  San  Luis  and  Santa  Barbara  are  Tertiary 
limestone  and  sandstones  of  Eocene  and  Miocene  ages. 

The  limestones  and  dolomites  of  the  Upper  Cretaceous 
age  are  also  found  in  Alta  Verapaz,  in  the  north  of  Izabal  and 
in  the  north  of  Huehuetenango,  mixed  with  Tertiary  lime- 


stones  and  sandstones,  and  followed  southward,  first  in  Hue- 
huetenango,  then  in  the  north  of  Quiche  and  in  the  south  of 
Alta  Yerapaz,  by  conglomerates,  dolomites  and  limestones  of 
the  Lower  Cretaceous  age,  and  again  in  the  same  departments 
further  south,  and  in  Baja  Yerapaz,  with  limestones  and  dolo- 
mites of  the  Upper  Carboniferous  age  commingled  with  Santa 
Rosa  strata  (slate,  sandstone,  pudding  stone  and  carboniferous 
graywacke),  a  formation  which  has  also  been  found  around 
Dolores  and  eastward  of  it  toward  Belen,  in  the  Department  of 
Peten,  and  again  toward  the  north  of  Chiantla  and  toward  the 
south  of  Cunen  in  Huehuetenango  with  pre-carboniferous 
limestone,  also  near  Rabinal  and  Salama  with  crystalline  lime- 
stone of  the  Azoic  age. 

This  Tertiary  formation  is  followed,  as  already  indi- 
cated in  the  orographical  sketch,  by  an  Azoic  formation  of 
gneiss,  mica-slate  and  phylada,  with  large  intrusions  of 
granite,  in  the  Department  of  Huehuetenango,  Quiche, 
Baja  Yerapaz,  Zacapa,  the  south  of  Izabal,  in  Chiquimula, 
Jalapa  and  Guatemala.  Granite  is  further  found  in  the  north 
of  Chicacao,  around  the  lake  and  eastward  of  the  volcano  of 
Atitlan,  between  Totonicapan  and  Santa  Cruz  de  Quiche,  in 
Yillamesa,  Jutiapa,  etc. 

A  kind  of  hornblende  slate  has  been  observed  in  small 
spots  in  Izabal.  Around  Lake  Izabal  and  along  the  "River 
Motagua  and  northward  of  it,  as  also  southward  of  Quasta- 
toya  and  northward  of  Cobulco  and  Rabinal,  serpentine  has 
been  found. 

The  eruptive  formations  which  cover  the  rest  of  Guate- 
mala are  composed  of  porphyry  in  the  north  of  Guatemala,  in 
the  northwest  of  Jocotan  and  northwest  of  Zacapulas;  of 
diorite  in  the  southeast  of  Palmillo;-of  obsidian  in  the  north- 
east of  Guatemala;  of  rhyolite  and  dacite  in  Olopa,  Jocotan, 
southward  of  Cuajiniquilapa  and  northeastward  of  Guatemala; 
and  of  trachyte,  together  with  basalt,  rhyolite,  obsidian  and 
granite  in  the  northeast  of  Guatemala,  northward  and  north- 
westward of  Santa  Cruz  de  Quiche,  northward  of  Zacapulas 
and  southward  of  Izabal. 

The  eruptive  formations  are  further  composed  of  basalt 
in  the  volcanoes  of  Pacaya,  Cerro  Redondo,  Chingo,  Suchitan, 

TI 


Iztepeque,  Ipala  and  Monterico,  also  around  Jerez,  Que- 
zaltepeque,  Ipala,  Concepcion,  Santa  Catarina,  Mita  and  Chi- 
quimula;  and  finally,  mostly  of  andesite  in  all  the  rest  of  the 
Cordillera  and  the  highlands,  as  in  Tacana,  Tejutla,  San 
Marcos,  Ostuncalco,  Quezaltenango,  Totonicapan,  Solola,  San 
Lucas,  Atitlan,  Santa  Cruz  Quiche,  Patzum,  Patzizia,  Antigua, 
Amatitlan,  Mataesquintla,  Cuajiniquilapa,  Moyata,  Jolote- 
peque,  etc. 

The  following  mineral  products  have  been  found,  de- 
monstrating that  Guatemala  may  also  have  a  promising  future 
development  in  this  line,  owing  to  the  varied  geological  forma- 
tions just  described: 

Quarts  and  gold  in  Cobulco,  Choi,  Rabinal  and  Salama 
in  Baja  Verapaz;  in  Palencia,  Chiquin  and  Sanarate  in  the  De- 
partment of  Guatemala;  in  Jalapa  and  Zacapa. 

Silver  and  galenas  in  San  Lorenzo,  San  Juan  Sacate- 
pequez,  Chinantla,  San  Antonio,  San  Pedro  Yampue  and 
Petapa  in  the  Department  of  Guatemala;  in  Rabinal  and  Cu- 
bulco  in  Baja  Verapaz;  in  Chimaltenango;  Jalapa;  Chiquimula 
(Alotepeque,  Concepcion  and  Esquimulas);  Santa  Rosa;  Hue- 
huetenango  and  Quezaltenango. 

Copper  in  Chinantla,  Trapiche  Grande,  San  Buenaven- 
tura, San  Juan  Sacatep'eque,  Palencia  and  Sanarate  in  the 
Department  of  Guatemala;  in  Rabinal  and  Cubulco  in  Baja 
Verapaz;  Amatitlan;  Jalapa  and  Zacapa. 

Coal  and  lignite  in  Chinantla,  Palencia  and  Sanarate  in 
Guatemala;  San  Martin  in  Chimaltenango;  Santa  Rosa; 
Jalapa;  Izabal;  and  Cerro  Gilnear,  Livingston,  and  Coban  in 
Alta  Verapaz. 

Manganese  in  Jutiapa. 

Asbestos  in  Salama  and  Cubulco  in  Baja  Verapaz. 

Graphite  in  Totonicapan,  Huehuetenango,  and  in  Cubulco 
and  Rabinal  in  Baja  Verapaz. 

Kaolin  in  Pinula,  Mixco,  San  Juan  Sacatepequez,  San 
Antonio  and  Chinantla  in  Guatemala;  Amatitlan;  Santa  Rosa. 

Opals  in  Chiquimula. 

Slate  in  Salama,  San  Antonio,  Chiquin,  and  Huehue- 
tenango. 

Alum  in  Jutiapa  and  Huehuetenango. 


Marble  in  San  Jose  de  Buenavista,  Salama  and  Totoni- 
capan. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  regions  with  porphyry,  trachyte, 
basalt,  rhyolite,  obsidian,  gneiss,  andesite  and  granite  com- 
bined, as  found  north-northeastward  of  the  city  of  Guatemala, 
around  Chiquimula,  Jocotan  and  Olopa,  southward  from  Za- 
capa,  northward  from  Quezaltepeque,  around  Zacapulas  and 
Santa  Magdalena,  between  Uspantan  and  San  Andres,  must 
be  rich  in  minerals,  as  similar  regions  are  in  other  parts  of  the 
world.  Valuable  mines  might  also  be  found  in  the  Sierra 
de  las  Minas  and  in  the  Sierra  de  le  Grita,  as  well  as  in  the 
Sierra  del  Espiritu  Santo. 

Soils.  The  character  of  the  soils  of  Guatemala  are,  as 
everywhere  else,  dependent  on  the  surrounding  geological 
formations,  with  reference  to  which  the  following  brief  list, 
taken  from  the  highly  interesting  maps  of  Dr.  Carlos  Sapper, 
is  given: 

1.  Alluvial  soils.     These   are   found   along   the  Atlantic 
Ocean,  in  the  lower  valley  of  the  Motagua  River,  in  that  of  the 
Rio  Dulce  and  in  the  lower  part  of  that  of  the  Rio  Polochic, 
as  well  as  in  the  lower  region  of  the  Rio  de  la  Pasion  and  in 
the  Salinas  or  Negro  river. 

2.  Mixed  allircial  and  volcanic  soils.     These  soils  cover 
all  the  lands  from  the  foot  of  the  Cordillera  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  also  the  valley  of  the  Motagua  River  from  Gualan 
upward  to  Morazan,  and  the  surroundings  of  Salama,  San 
Geronimo,   Rabinal,   Cobulco,   Zacapulco,   Chiquimula,  Jilo- 
tepeque,    Pinula,    Santa    Catarina,   Jutiapa,    Esquipulas    and 
Jalapa. 

3.  Volcanic  soils.     These  soils  cover  the  lands  between 
Guatemala  and  Amatitlan,  the  surroundings  of  Chimaltenango 
and  of  Quezaltenango  and  the  land  south   of  the  lake  of 
Atitlan. 

4.  Mixed   cluz'ial   and   volcanic   soils.      These    soils    pre- 
dominate in  the  region  of  the  volcanoes  which  form  a  long 
chain  along  the  Pacific  Ocean,  50  to  80  km.  distant  from  the 
Cordillera  de  los  Andes.     Also  the  southern  part  of  the  adja- 
cent highlands,  called  "Mesa  central,"  are  covered  with  these 
mixed  volcanic  and  eluvial  soils,  mostly  of  andesite  origin; 

13 


as,  for  instance,  the  lands  of  Tacana,  Momostenango,  San 
Marcos,  San  Francisco,  Totonicapan,  Mazatenango,  Solola, 
Santa  Cruz  Quiche,  Tecpan,  Pacicia,  Patulul,  Antigua,  San 
Antonio,  Palencia,  Sampaquisoy,  Mataquescuintla,  Barberena, 
Cuajiniquilapa,  Chiquimulilla.  Jalpatagua,  Comapa  and  Yu- 
piltepeque. 

5.  Changed  or  replaced  soils.      These   soils   of   different 
geological  origin  are  found  in  the  northern  part  of  the  "Mesa 
Central,"  in  a  long  strip,  bounded  by  Momostenango,  San  Jose, 
San  Antonio,  Jalapa  and  Santa  Catarina  toward  the  south; 
and  Quilco,  Huehuetenango,  Uspanton,  San  Cristobal  and  the 
foothills  of  the  Sierra  de  las  Minas  toward  the  north.     Besides 
the  already  named  municipalities,  the  following  have  the  same 
soil:    San   Martin,  Jogabaj,    Canoas,    Sanarate,    Guastatoya, 
Jocotan,  Gualan  and  Palmillo. 

6.  Lateritc  clay.     This   heavy   soil   predominates   in   the 
high  regions,  especially  in  the  Sierra  Madre  6  Altos  Cuchu- 
matanas,    around   the   municipalities    of   San    Mateo,    Santa 
Eulalia,  Salama,  Ixcoy,  Todos  Santos,  Nebaj,  Chajut,  Cozal, 
Cunen,  Uspantan  and  Chicanan. 

7.  Laterite  in  decomposition.     This  reddish  soil  is  found 
in   the   Sierras   de   las    Minas,    del    Mico,    de   la    Grita    and 
Espiritu  Santo,  and  in  Merendon;  also  in  the  mountains  north 
of  Lake  Izabal,  around  Olapa,  Coyante,  Teleman,  and  north 
of  Santa  Cruz  de  Quiche. 

8.  Lateritc  residua.     Nearly  all  the  Department  of  Peten 
is  covered  with  this  fertile  soil,  as  is  also  a  great  part  of 
the  Departments  of  Izabal,  Alta  Verapaz  and  Huehuetenango 
in  the  north. 

9.  Laterite  in  transformation.     This  soil  is  found  in  spots 
in  the  mountains  of  Chamas  and  Santa  Cruz,  in  the  region 
of  the  Sarstoon  and  Pasion  Rivers,  around  Lanquin,  Cahabon, 
San  Luis  and  Dolores  in  Peten. 


II. 


CLIMATE. 


The  people  of  Guatemala  distinguish  three  zones,  called 
Ticrra  calicntc  (hot  region),  Ticrra  teinplada  (temperate  region) 
and  Ticrra  fria  (cold  region),  and  two  seasons,  the  moist  or 
humid,  called  inz'icnio  or  winter,  and  a  dry  one,  called  verano 
or  summer. 

The  ticrra  calicntc  comprises  the  coast  lands  of  the 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  Oceans. 

The  ticrra  tcmplcida,  or  temperate  zone,  is  found  on 
the  highlands  or  mcsctas  ccntralcs,  from  2,000  to  5,000  feet 
above  the  sea  level. 

The  ticrra  fria,  or  cold  zone,  is  situated  above  the  eleva- 
tion of  5,000  feet,  and  especially  in  the  Departments  of  Solola, 
Totonicapan,  Quiche,  Huehuetenango,  Quezaltenango  and 
San  Marcos,  regions  known  under  the  name  of  Los  Altos. 

The  rainy  scasoi  begins  in  May  and  lasts  until  October 
in  the  interior,  and  until  December  along  the  coasts. 

TJic  hottest  months  are  March  and  April,  the  coldest 
December  and  January. 

Going  more  into  details,  Guatemala  lies  entirely  in  the 
torrid  zone.  Stretched  out  between  two  oceans  not  far  from 
each  other,  the  climate  would  be  uniformly  hot  and  moist  but 
for  her  varied  mountains,  especially  the  Cordilleras  de  los  Andes, 
which  oppose  themselves  to  the  prevailing  winds,  causing 
notable  differences  not  only  in  temperature,  but  also  in  rain- 

15 


falls,  humidity  of  the  air,   clouds  and   other  meteorological 
phenomena. 

The  predominant  winds  are  from  the  east  and  north. 
Only  along  the  Pacific  coast  and  on  the  southern  slopes  of 
the  southern  Cordillera  southern  and  southwestern  winds  are 
frequent  at  certain  times  of  the  year.  But  it  is  also  true  that 
the  different  mountains  often  modify  locally  the  direction  of 
the  winds. 

The  curves  of  atmospheric  pressure  are  very  slight.  As 
in  the  territory  of  Guatemala  the  sun  passes  twice  a  year  to 
the  zenith  of  each  locality,  so  the  temperature  is  higher  at  those 
times  (April,  May  and  August)  than  in  the  intermediary 
periods  (July,  December  and  January).  The  daily  course  of 
temperature  is  generally  simple,  although  clouds  and  winds 
cause  irregularities.  The  minimum  is  observed  at  sunrise  and 
the  maximum  between  two  and  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

Dr.  Carlos  Sapper  gives  the  following  table  of  average 
centigrade  temperatures : 


Puerto  Barrios. . . 

Salama 

Campur 

Chimax 

Guatemala 

Quezaltenango  . . 


2m. 

920 

930 
1,306 
1,485 


S 


a    6 


23:/0  24      24%  26%  27 1.',  2!'1',  -Jii;.',   2G  1-5  26%  27     i261/2'23% 
20  "j21      23%  24%  25%  25%  24%   24i£    24      21%  21%  20% 
17%!  19%  19%  21%  23     22  '  21     ,20%    20%  20%  1H%  16% 
16%  10%  18%  19%  20     19%  19%;  igu    20%  18%  16>|  16 
16     l7%i18V2  19%  19%  19     18%  18% 
10%  113%  r 


ivt%  iv     J»y2  isy2    i»y,  j»     ID^  ie; 
17     .16%  16      15%    16%  15%  14%  12 


Dr.  Sapper  estimates  that  for  each  100  meters  of  elevation 
the  temperature  is  diminished  by  one-half  of  a  centigrade  de- 
gree. Naturally,  clouds,  rainfalls  and  high  winds  modify  the 
regularity  of  temperature. 

The  atmospheric  humidity  is  high  all  over  the  country, 
except  in  the  dry  regions  situated  between  humid  or  moist 
mountains,  as,  for  instance,  in  Salama  and  in  the  valley  of  the 
Motagua  River.  Its  maximum  is  about  sunrise,  and  the  mini- 
mum between  two  and  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  depend- 
ing upon  the  temperature.  Electric  phenomena,  the  direction 
of  the  winds  and  also  the  vegetation  sensibly  modify  the  sat- 
uration of  the  air.  Thunderstorms  are  frequent  from  May  to 


16 


September,  but  seldom  occur  during  other  parts  of  the  year. 
They  come  on  mostly  in  the  afternoon  between  half-past  two 
and  half-past  six  o'clock. 

In  regard  to  rainfall,  it  is  a  general  rule  that  regions  con- 
fronting moist  winds  from  the  ocean  have  an  abundant  pre- 
cipitation, and  that  regions  defended  by  mountain  ranges  from 
the  incursion  of  sea  winds  are  dry.  Guatemala,  having  a  com- 
plicated topographical  configuration,  has  for  this  reason  great 
varieties  of  rainfall  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 

Nearly  all  the  curves  of  rainfall  present  two  maxima,  both 

urring  a  little  after  the  sun  has  passed  the  zenith  of  each 

locality — that  is,  in  June  or  July  and  in  September.     Some 

places  in  the  north  show  a  third  maximum,  and  other  places^ 

such  as  Senahu,  only  one,  which  comes  in  August. 

Dr.  Sapper  observed  in  Alta  Verapaz  and  along  the  At- 
lantic coast  a  considerable  rainfall  distributed  throughout  the 
year,  a  little  heavier  in  October  and  December,  and  less  from 
January  to  April.  In  Los  Altos,  known  as  Costa  Cuca,  he 
found  the  rainfall  very  heavy,  and  occurring  mostly  from  April 
to  October. 

Further  north,  in  Quezaltenango  and  in  Salama,  he  ob- 
served less  precipitation,  and  it  occurred  mostly  from  May  to 
September.  After  that  time  there  followed  a  long  dry  season. 

In  the  City  of  Guatemala  and  surrounding  highlands  he 
noted  a  dry  season  quite  as  long  and  as  well  pronounced,  but 
the  total  amount  of  rainfall  was  considerably  larger,  the  moist 
winds  from  the  Pacific  having  freer  access  to  these  localities. 

More  particulars  are  found  in  the  following  table  of  aver- 
age rainfall  in  millimeters  for  different  regions: 


2«S 

-; 

111 

a 

1 

_= 

M 

1 

5      |= 

Si 

0 

f 

O 

: 

i 

Puerto  Harrios.  .  .. 

2  m. 

140 

155     85 

l'"O 

160 

320   5% 

490 

2SO 

IfiO 

4:!0 

24.1 

'•(|| 

ISO 

210    125 

70 

2tiO    :•- 

300    510 

59*3 

400 

280 

getal  

720 

17o 

300    270 

70 

300    o't>    li'H 

51  KI    4.".U 

620 

330 

420 

090 

0 

0       0 

o 

90    1- 

70    110 

20 

A 

Seuahu  iHH) 

180 

100     80 

10  r> 

500    6''0    8'K) 

;^i'i 

16ol  11p; 

I.as  Mercedes  I.OM 

•215 

445    5«(l    470 

MO 

i:i'. 

fifl 

i  in 

11(1 

100 

60 

2JO    3'20    810    °10    '  i'i 

''•'iO 

210 

170 

(Guatemala     1.4*")            10 

8 

5 

''O 

75    I4o    -'fid    -'7.-,    •>•>.-, 

180 

15 

Qut-zaltenango  2,:.'»'.0             0 

0 

0 

90 

16  J    1(0      75    120 

20 

10 

Hail  seldom  falls  in  the  Republic  of  Guatemala;  frosts 
have  been  observed  only  in  regions  above  1,800  meters  eleva- 
tion, and  snow  has  only  been  seen  in  regions  above  3,100  me- 
ters. The  climate,  taken  all  in  all,  is  healthy.  Fevers  are  con- 
fined to  the  coast  lands,  which  are  very  warm  and  moist. 


1 8 


III. 


CHA&ACTEB  OF  VEGETATION. 


The  vegetation  of  Guatemala,  as  Mr.  Hemsley  says,  >s 
probably  as  varied  as  that  of  Southern  Mexico,  but  there  are 
no  large  desert  tracts,  as  in  Northern  Mexico. 

The  main  mountain  chain  is  an  extension  of  that  of  Chia- 
pas, Mexico,  and  attains  its  greatest  elevation  in  Quezal- 
tenango,  Chimaltenango  and  Guatemala,  where  it  consists  of 
upland  plains  stretching  away  to  the  north,  surrounded  by 
high  hills  and  with  the  outline  broken  on  the  Pacific  side  by 
volcanoes.  These  highland  plains  are,  for  the  most  part,  com- 
paratively free  from  the  denser  growth  of  trees,  and  are,  where 
not  under  cultivation,  covered  with  grass  upon  which  sheep 
and  cattle  graze.  The  surrounding  hills  are  clothed  with 
pines  and  oaks  to  an  elevation  of  10,000  to  11,000  feet,  but 
they  are  mostly  of  low  growth. 

A  dense  forest  covers  the  slopes  of  the  Cordillera  toward 
the  Pacific  from  an  elevation  of  from  5,000  to  6,000  feet,  and 
this  blends  with  the  lowland  forests,  which  are  denser  and  less 
broken  at  the  foot  of  the  Cordillera,  but  toward  the  ocean 
shore  they  are  interspersed  with  palms  and  other  trees,  or 
with  open  stretches  of  rank  grass. 

A  long,  narrow  mountain  ridge  leaves  the  Cordillera  not 
far  from  Totonicapan,  and  at  first  forms  the  watershed  between 
the  Rio  Xegro  (Chisoy  or  Salinas)  and  Motagua. 

Then  it  divides,  one  branch  separating  the  Motagua  and 

19 


the  Polochic  valleys,  the  other  the  Polochic  and  the  waters  of 
the  Rio  Xegro  or  Salinas  and  the  Rio  de  La  Pasion. 

The  upper  part  of  the  valley  of  Motagua  consists  of  plains 
covered  chiefly  with  oaks  and  pines,  the  former  loaded  with 
orchids  and  Bromeliacece  (including  Tillandsia  iisneoidcs}. 

Lower  down  the  valley  contracts,  and  its  sides  are  cov- 
ered with  a  shrubby  forest  mingled  with  pines,  but  the  higher 
slopes  are  clothed  with  oaks,  which  are  also  loaded  with  7V/- 
landsia  and  orchids,  such  as  Oncidium,  Epidendrum,  Pleurothal- 
lis  and  others. 

The  hills  then  recede,  and  the  valley  expands  into  open 
and  comparatively  barren  plains  covered  with  Mimosae  and 
Cacti. 

This  vegetation  is  again  succeeded  rather  suddenly  be- 
tween Zacapa  and  Gualan  by  rich  virgin  forests,  and  these  con- 
tinue to  the  Atlantic. 

The  valleys  of  the  Polochic  and  Cahabon  Rivers  take  their 
rise  in  Alta  Verapaz,  in  a  rainy  district  covered  with  dense 
vegetation,  a  large  portion  of  which  is  under  cultivation.  The 
ancient  forests  have  for  the  most  part  given  place  to  a  second 
growth  of  woods,  which  are  "cut  and  burnt  from  time  to  time 
for  plantations  of  Indian  corn,  sugar,  coffee,  etc. 

In  these  valleys  are  also  patches  of  fine  forests,  occupying 
the  spurs  of  the  chains  of  mountains  bounding  and  dividing 
the  valleys  on  either  side. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  Cahabon  the  vegetation  is  more 
scanty,  and  open  grassy  plains  occur. 

A  few  leagues  above  the  junction  of  the  Polochic  and 
Cahabon  Rivers,  between  Teleman  and  Panzos,  the  virgin 
forest  is  entered,  and  this,  as  in  the  Motagua  valley,  continues 
to  the  sea,  covering  the  whole  country  around  Lake  Izabal 
and  along  the  banks  of  the  Rio  Dulce. 

The  high  ridge  bounding  the  valley  of  the  Cahabon  on  the 
north  is  clothed  with  virgin  forests  nearly  to  its  summit,  and 
these  spread  continuously  northward  without  interruption  to 
the  borders  of  the  Department  of  Peten.  Pine  clad  ridges 
form  the  divides  between  the  rivers. 

Perhaps  the  largest  unbroken  forest  in  the  whole  of  Gua- 
temala extends  from  northern  Alta  Verapaz  into  Peten. 

20 


In  order  to  give  some  idea  of  the  phyto-geographical 
range  of  vegetation,  let  us  observe  the  highest  volcanoes,  the 
Volcan  de  Fuego  (4,260  m.)  and  the  Volcan  de  Agua  (4,120 
m.)  as  types.  Mr.  Hemsley,  whose  very  trustworthy  descrip- 
tion is  here  reproduced,  and  which  accords  with  the  author's 
own  observation,  says  of  the  Volcan  de  Agua  that  its  peak  is 
clothed  with  grass  and  a  few  pines,  together  with  the  Alpine 
shrubs,  vaccineae,  lupinus,  etc. ;  while  the  top  of  the  Volcan  de 
Fuego  is  nearly  barren,  a  few  ferns,  lycopods,  etc.,  only  having 
fixed  themselves  in  the  crevices  of  rocks. 

Lower  down  on  both  volcanoes  the  pine  trees  become 
larger  and  more  numerous,  but  entirely  cease  at  an  elevation 
of  10,200  feet,  giving  place  to  a  dense  mixed  forest.  Large 
evergreen  oaks  are  prevalent  at  an  elevation  of  from  7,000  to 
8,000  feet.  From  this  altitude  down  the  virgin  forest  has 
been  destroyed,  to  be  succeeded  by  sugar  fields  and  Indian 
corn  patches,  and  still  further  down  by  coffee  plantations  in 
terspersed  among  woods  of  second  growth. 

In  order  to  characterize  the  vegetation  of  the  Republic  of 
Guatemala  in  a  few  words,  we  may  distinguish  with  Dr. 
Sapper : 

1 .  Litoral  forests  in  a  narrow  belt  along  the  Pacific  and 
Atlantic  coast. 

'2.  Moist  or  humid  forests  oj  the  ticrra  calicnte  (hot  zone) 
mixed  with  savannas  (prairie  fields)  which  cover  all  the  plains 
from  the  foot  of  the  Cordillera  de  los  Andes  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean. 

3.  Moist  or  humid  forests  of  the  tierra  caliente  (hot  zone) 
and  tierra  templada  (temperate  zone),  found  along  the  foothills 
of  the  volcanic  chain  of  the  Cordillera  de  los  Andes,  and  in 
the  northern  and  eastern  part  of  the  Republic  of  Guatemala,  as 
described  above. 

4.  Moist  or  humid  forests  of  the  ticrra  fria  (cold  zone) ,  pre- 
dominating in  the  Altos  Cuchumatanes. 

•").  Pin  a  res  and  roblares  (pine  and  oak  forests'),  of  the  tierra 
caliente,  tiara  templada  and  ticrra  fria,  found  in  the  upland 
plains  (mesetas  centrales),  covering  considerable  expanses  and 
mixed  with  : 

21 


6.  Savannas  -with  Chaparrales  (small  trees  and  bushes  of 
Mimosecc,   Euphorbiacca" ,    etc.),   characteristic   of  the   upland 
plains  and  dry  regions. 

7.  Savannas  with  pines,  along  the  Golfo  Dulce  (Atlantic 
coast  lands). 

8.  Savannas  of  the  tierra  fria,  on  the  highest  table-lands 
of  the  mountains. 

The  vegetation  of  Guatemala  is  very  rich  in  economic 
plants.  My  list  of  woods  exceeds  the  number  of  400  different 
species ;  339  are  contained  in  my  list  of  medicinal  plants. 
There  are  7  different  kinds  of  rubber  trees,  about  a  dozen 
fibre  plants,  over  50  gums  and  resins,  a  great  number  of  tan- 
ning and  dye  woods,  a  very  great  number  of  fruit  trees,  many 
oil  plants,  i  wax  plant  {Virola  sebifcra  Aubl-.\  numerous 
aromatic  and  perfume  producing  plants,  spices,  balsams,  starch 
yielding  roots,  etc. 

Among  the  woods  figure  in  first  place  the  caoba  {Sivietenia 
Mahagoni L.}, cedro  ( Cedrela  odorata  L . ) ,  guayacan  ( Guayacit in 
officinale L . ) ,  mora  ( Chlorophora  tinctoriaL.  Gaud. ) ,  guachipilin 
(Pilhecolobiuni),  ronron  {Parinarium  guiancnsis},  madre 
cacao  {Gliricidea) ,  ebano  {Brya  ebanns  L.  [Z?C]),  laurel  (Nec- 
tandra),  cortez  (Tabebuia  Donnel  Smithia  Rose},  chico  zapote 
{Achras  zapote  L.),  balsamo  {Myroxylon),  cipres  (Cupressus), 
cedro  bianco  {Bursera),  cenisero  {Pithccolobium  Saman 
Benth.},  culebro  {Terminalia) ,  encino  {Quercus),  guajo  {Leu- 
acna  esculenta  BenthJ},  guanacaste  (Enterolobium  cyclocarpum 
Gr.),  iscanal  {Mimosa,  sp.\  mangle  {Rhizophord  Mangle  L.}, 
nacascalote  (Caesalpinia  coriaria  IVilld.},  palojiote  (Bur sera 
Simaruba  (/,.)  Sarg.},  pino  bianco  {Abies  religiosa  Linden), 
also  called  pinabete,  pino  Colorado  {Pinus),  roble  {Querc-iis}, 
tasisco  {Pervnienium  Turckheimii  Klatt^),  taray  {Eysenhardtia 
amorphoidesH. B.K.),  tepeguaje (Lysiloma acapulcensis Benih.} , 
zapotillo  {Vitcllaria  mammosa  (L.)  Radlk.},  etc. 

These  medicinal  plants  take  a  first  rank  : 

Zarzaparilla  {Smilax  ojficinalis,  L.},  guaco  {Arisfolochia}, 
quina  {Cinchona),  michoacan  {Exogonium  Piirga  {Wender) 
Benth),  liquidambar  {Liquidambar  macrophylla  Oerst),  te  de 
limon  (Andropogoif),  copalchi  {Croton  niveus  Jacq.},  calagula 
{Polypodiuvi),  contrayerba  {Dorstenia  Contrayerva  L.),  casca- 

22 


rilla  ( Croton  flarcns  L .  i,  copal  (Tctragastris  bahamifera  (Sit'.) 
O.  AVrr.),  doradilla  (Adtantum),  etc. 

The  principal  rubber  tree  is  the  Caslilloa  elastica  Cen . . 
locally  called  "  hule."  Other  milk  producing  trees  are  a 
number  of  Ficus,  as  the  amate,  uiastate,  higuera,  etc.,  a 
number  of  Euphorbiacea-,  Apocynacccc,  Asdepiadacctc,  Sapota- 
cetc  and  species  of  Brosimum  (milk  tree),  Artocarpus  (bread 
tree),  Carica  (melon  tree\  Hura,  etc. 

The  most  important  fibre  plants  are  :  the  Carludoriea 
palmata  Ruiz  ct  /'«;•. ,  of  the  leaves  of  which  the  so-called 
Panama  hats  are  made,  the  palma  real  (Oreodo\a  oleracea 
Mart.},  also  used  for  hats,  the  fibres  of  coyol  (Acrocomia  i'ini- 
fcra  Oerst.),  maguey  and  henequeu  (Agave),  pita  floja  (Four- 
crova  gigantea  \  'cut. ),  piiiuela  (Bromclia  pinguin  L.},  escobilla 
(Abutihn  indicum  Sw. ) ,  silk,  cottons  (Bombax  Cciba  and  Ochroma 
(agopus),  white  and  brown  cottons  (Gossypium  barbadense,) 
bast  (Castilloa  elastica,  Cci'd  ;  Guazuma  ulmifolia  Lani.\  etc. 

Among  the  balsams,  gums  and  resins  are  prominent  the 
balsams  of  Liquidambar  macrophylla  Ocrst.,  Myroxylon  sp.,  the 
resins  and  turpentines  of  pines  (Pinus),  the  gums  of  cachito 
acia  Farncsiana  Willd.),  icanal  (Mimosa),  espino  bianco 
(Prosopis),  guanncaste  (Entcrolobium  cyclocarpum  Gr.},  the 
resins  of  copinol  or  guapinol  (Hymenaea  courbaril  L.},  cedro 
(Burscra),  jiote  (Bursera  simaruba  (L.)  Sarg.),  jocote  (Spon- 
dias  dulcis  Forsk.\  jobo  (Spondias  lutea  /,.),  mangle  (Rhizo- 
phora  Mangle  L.),  guacacan  (Guajacum  officinale  L.},  espino 
negro  (Acacia  sp.),  etc. 

The  best  tannings  are  the  barks  of  encina  and  roble 
(species  of  Ouercus),  mangle  (Rhizophora  Mangle  Z.),  guana  - 
caste  (Enterolobium  cyclocarpum  Grisb.~),  and  the  fruits  of 
iiacascolote  (Caesalpinia  coriaria  Willd.) 

Tinctorial  plants  are,  in  the  first  place,  the  indigo  or  anil 
(Indigofera  anil  L.),  then  the  achiote  (Bixa  orcllcna  L.),  the 
camotillo  (Curcuma  longa  Roxb.~),  the  wood  of  campeche 
(Hamatoxylon  campcchiannm  L.),  of  brazil  (Caesalpinia  sp.), 
of  uiora  (Chlorophora  tinctoria) ,  sacatinta  (Dicliptcra  \\ihliana 
<. ),  the  fruits  of  iiacascolote  (Caesalpinia  coriaria  IVilld.), 
etc. 

Among  the  oil  fruits  and  oil  seeds  may  be  mentioned  the 

23 


corozo  (Attalca  cohune  Mart.},  the  coyol  (Acrocomia  vinifera 
Mart.'),  coco  (Cocos  nncifera),  and  the  cultivated  seeds  of 
Ricinus  communis  L.,  Arachis  hypogaea  L. ,  Jatropha  atrcas  L., 
Sesamnni  indiciun  L.,  Linum  usitatissimum  L.,  Brassica 
olcracea  L. ,  etc. 

Fruit  trees  and  plants  are  the  orange,  lemon  and  other  spe- 
cies of  Citrus,  the  aguacate  {Per  sea  gratissima  L.'),  the  anona 
(Anona  squamosa  L. ,  Anona  reticulataL.'},  the  chirimoya  (Anona 
cherimolia  Mill.},  the  chico  zapote  (Achras  sapota  L.),  guana- 
vana  or  guanava  (Anona  muricata  L.},  mamey  (Mammea  ameri- 
fanaL.),  Mango  (Mangifera  indica  Z,.),  maraiion  {Anacardiwn 
occidental  L.},  jocote  (Spondias),  Maiizana  de  Rosa  (Jambosa 
Caryophyllus  (Spr.  Ndz.},  cainito  (Chrysophyllnm  cainito  Z,.), 
guayaba  (Psidium  guayva  Raddi),  icaco  (Chrysobalamis  icaco 
Z,.),  sonsapote  {Mangifera  indica  /,.),  palo  de  pan  {Artocarpus 
incisa  Z,.),  higo  (Ficus  carica  Z,.,)  papajra  (Carica  papaya  Z,.), 
nance  (Afalpighia parvifolia  A.  Juss.},  coco  (Cocos  nucifera  Z,.), 
cacao  (Theobroma  Cacao  Z,.)>  granadilla  (Passiflora  sp.~),  etc., 
not  counting  a  variety  of  bananas  (Afusa}  and  other  cultivated 
plants,  like  pine  apples,  coffee,  etc. 

The  best  aromatic  plant  is  the  vanilla  (Vanilla  plani folia, 
Andr.),  but  there  are  a  very  great  number  of  aromatic  barks 
(like  canelo,  palo  de  anis,  balsamo),  aromatic  woods,  aromatic 
flowers,  aromatic  seeds,  etc.,  as  well  as  all  kinds  of  spices. 

The  principal  roots  or  tubers  are  the  yucca  (Manihot  aipi, 
Pohl.},  the  name  (Dioscorea  alata  L.),  camote  6  batata  dulce 
(Ipomosa  batatas  Lam.,  or  sweet  potato),  el  quiquisque  (Colo- 
casia  antiquonim  Schott.)  and  the  potato  (Solanum  tnbcros- 
um  L.) . 

Nearly  every  plant  can  be  cultivated  in  the  territory  of 
Guatemala,  but  as  all  the  plants  depend  upon  a  certain  average 
temperature,  the  following  list  is  given  of  the  altitudes  and 
centigrade  temperatures  suited  to  the  more  important  com- 
mercial plants: 


Vune. 

Altitude  in 

Meters. 

Average  Temperature. 

Coffee  

3,H)  to  ].-•>()  1S(M) 

Tierra  caliente,  Tieiru  tempi.  ul.i, 
23°--'                   17°--j:;  C 

0  "     4(M) 

11 

0  "  I'-itMl 

11 

I  niliyo  or  :i  fill  .... 

0  '      7<X) 

11                         11 

Kiee  

0  '     KMM) 

i. 

0  •       OH) 

ii 

0         KM) 

i.                         1'; 

800  '    11XN) 

11                         .. 

0  '       HOO 

ti                         11 

Oreodoxa  oleraeeii  

0"   12U) 

11                                                 U 

0  •'   17<K) 

II                              11 

0  "    1S.K) 

tl                              11 

0  "   17.KI 

11                              11 

0  "  itJOO-1900 

Tierra  friii  inferior, 

Cottiin 

0  "  1400 

U 

0  "  14'Mi 

11 

0  "  1800 

1.                            1 

Yueea      (Maniltvt    <///)/ 

0"  1EIX) 

11                              II                                  1 

(I  ••  1900 

U                                                 II 

0  "  li>r)0 

11                                  1 

0  ••  2KX) 

II                              II                                  1 

i:!'Kl    •  -'4.MI 

It                                  1 

ISXi   •  f<500 

I 

14.'.0   '  3;XX) 

U                                                 1 

0    '  3IMMI 

1.                             1.                                  1 

11                              (I                                  1 

0   '  3100 

II                              11                                  1 

\Vlieit                 .             .    . 

ISiK)    *  "IV) 

< 

0  "  3400 

Tierr.i  fria, 
"                         '  '                         10°C. 

Pinab 

^400  •'  3500 

I.-n!;it«il    ilirotyledoilOUS 

3600 

,( 

Coniferous    forests   ami 

.1 

4000 

ii 

The  following  pages  give  a  complete  list  of  the  native 
names  of  the  woods  and  medicinal  plants. 


Native  Names  cf  the  Woods  of  Guatemala. 

Abeto. 

Allison. 

Beyoton. 

Acaal. 

Auono. 

Bilin. 

Acacia. 

Ansul. 

Bits. 

Aceituno. 

Araluni.                                  Bojon. 

Ag'uacate. 

Aripiu.                                    Bolador. 

Aguacate  cimarron. 

Aripin  Colorado.                  Brazil. 

Aguacate  de  uiico. 

Aripin  negro. 

Bramon. 

Alamo. 

Arrayan.                                 Bronzon    5    joblllo. 

*it«r>d.»'j. 

Asta.                                      Bucute. 

Algodoncillo. 

Ausup. 

Buente. 

Aliso. 

Aya. 

Buluche. 

Aliso  bianco. 

Bun-ion. 

Aliso  Colorado. 

Bache. 

Almendro. 

Bacutzun. 

Cabahue  or  calahue. 

Ama. 

Balsamo. 

Cabo  de  hacha. 

Araate. 

Baquelman. 

Cabos. 

Ataate  bianco. 

Bejuco  de  cruz.                   Cacao. 

25 


Native  Names  of  Woods  of  Guatemala—  Continued* 

Caoho. 

chlllmate. 

I-Npino  jiote. 

Cachilote. 

Chile. 

Estoraque. 

Cacho  de  venado. 

Chilindron. 

Encalypto. 

Cacoe. 

Chilique   bianco. 

Calmlto. 

ChilonrhO. 

Flor   Maiica. 

Caimito    ciniarron. 

Chimon. 

Floi-   inata. 

raj. 

Chlnacti: 

Frijol. 

Cajetlllo. 

Chintoc. 

Fruta  de  cabro. 

Caleto. 

Chlntoox  bianco. 

Fustic. 

('ajon. 

Cbipilin. 

Cagaghan'ce. 

Cbiqui-y. 

Gamnsa. 

Calagoa. 

Cbochoc. 

Gorda. 

calote. 

Chocon. 

Gramlan. 

i  'anaje. 

Cbololt$. 

Granartillo. 

Camasul. 

Chonilll. 

Gnachlptlln. 

Camello. 

Chontai. 

Gaacbipilln  do  IHOH- 

Carney. 

Chonte. 

tafia. 

Campanillo. 

Chorreado. 

Gaacbipilln  de  zopc. 

Canac. 

Chucon  or  Cbocon. 

Guacinio. 

Cafiafistola. 

Chucun. 

Gnaco. 

Canal. 

Chulte. 

Guacoco. 

Canast^. 

Clpres. 

Gua.io  or  Guaj. 

Canelillo. 
Candelillo. 

Cupulpon. 
Ciracil. 

Guajilote. 
Guania. 

Canelo. 

Ciricote. 

Guanacaste. 

Canjan    or    canxan 

Clya. 

Guapinol. 

or  canshan. 

Clusero. 

Guarnmo. 

Canoi. 

Cocomatillo. 

Guayabillo. 

Cant6. 

Cocoyol. 

Guayabillo      del 

Canton  ron. 

Coj. 

monte. 

Cantote. 

Cola  de  Hnerta. 

Guayacan. 

Caoba. 

Cola  de  Nabo. 

Guayacanclllo. 

Capaton. 

Cola  de  pavo. 

Guayavo. 

Capeta. 

Colay. 

Guelleno. 

Capote. 

Copalchi. 

Guicicil. 

Capoton. 

Comaste. 

Guchila. 

Capulin. 

Conac. 

Guilihuiste. 

Care:. 

Copac. 

(Juilon. 

Carezo. 

Copal  de  zope. 

Guite. 

Carreto. 

Copo  copinol. 

Carreto  chino. 

Cordoncillo. 

Hamacuvo. 

Cascamite. 

Corona. 

Higo. 

Castano. 

Corozo. 

Hilamo. 

Catecay. 

Cortez. 

Jlocochinol. 

Cedazo. 

Corteza  bianco. 

Hormlgo. 

Cedrillo. 

Corteza     de     tierra 

Horniiguillo. 

Cedro  bianco. 

fria. 

Huanacaste. 

Cedro  de  la  costa. 

Cortez  negro. 

Huacmi. 

Cedro  de  moiitana. 

Croton. 

Huano. 

Cedron. 

Cruzeto. 

Huco. 

Cenicero. 

Cualius. 

Huesito. 

Cerezo. 

Cuapinol. 

Iluilacuc. 

Chacaj. 

Cucrncb. 

Huilihuiste. 

Chacole. 

Cuducb. 

Ilnisisil. 

Chacanche. 

Culan. 

Huite. 

Chactecoc. 

Culebro. 

Hal  ton. 

Chalurn. 

Cumuscuh. 

Hule. 

Chaltecoco. 

Curafia. 

Champac. 

lean. 

Chanupo. 

Dnramo. 

Ilaino. 

Chaparro. 

Durazno. 

Ilamo  bianco. 

Chaperno. 

Duraznillo. 

Ilamo  Colorado. 

Chaperno  bianco. 

Durucbal. 

Ilamo  macho. 

Chote. 

Ilamo   terno. 

Chatermo. 

Ebano. 

Iquiehe1. 

Chattermuch. 

Ebano  del  monte. 

Irayol. 

Checken. 

Ectis. 

Iscamal. 

Chicbipote. 

Encino. 

Ixguache. 

Cbicbique. 

Encino   bianco. 

Ixlan. 

Chickarro. 

Encino  Colorado. 

Chico. 

Encino    negro. 

Jabillo. 

Chico  de  montafia. 

Escobo. 

Jabin. 

Chico  zapote. 

Escobillo. 

Jaboncillo. 

26 


Native  Names  of  Woods  of  Guatemala  —  Continued. 

Jalteyupe.                                Mitilisqur.                             I'icli. 

Jeuno. 

Morillo.                                    J'erata. 

licaro. 

Mora. 

1'ixov. 

Jii. 

;iroy. 

Pichol. 

Jiote. 

Mora  rlavo. 

,illo. 

Jobo.                                           Mora  espino. 

Plumojillo. 

Ji.l.illo  or  bronzou.              Mora  rashu. 

Pleinillo. 

Jocote.                                      Moral. 

Posht^. 

Jocote  dulco.                          Mo: 

PllXI'lll'. 

Jocote  do  fraile.                     M<>ni<-aray. 

1'uutero. 

JocotP  de  uiico.                      M'.  sole. 

>tin. 

Muxt,-. 

Quiebrahacha. 

Jojonte. 

Mulato. 

Quita    camisas. 

Jolol. 

Muyloco.                              Quina  roja. 

Jul  MI. 

Quina. 

Jubllll. 

\'ib'i 

Quijinicuil. 

Juju. 

Nance. 

Quinocche. 

Jnpnynlo. 

N'n  va  nf*h£. 

Jusisco. 

Naranjo. 

Raixchec. 

Kante. 

Lagarto. 
LaurjeL 

xacascalote. 
Naranjlllo. 
uite. 
Nispero. 
Niqnidala. 
\r  ii*-»  •/ 

Rayan. 

Ki-taino  do  castilla. 
Retaino   silvostre. 
Roble  amargo. 
Roble. 
Roble  negro. 

Laurel    mensado.                 -•«--. 

Roble  alazan. 

Lauelillo. 

Roble  de  montafla. 

Leche  amarillo. 

Ocante1. 

Roble  de  tierra  cal- 

Lci-liO    do    inaria. 

Ocansin. 

iente. 

Leche  bianco. 
Leche  de  vaca. 

Ocancoj. 
Oconsagui. 

Roble  bianco. 
Ronron. 

Lechny. 
Limache. 

Olivo. 
Oljuche. 

Rosa. 
Roman. 

I.imon. 

O  ma  late. 

Robleto. 

Limonsillo. 

Ontzu. 

Limpiadientes. 

Sacricoy. 

Liquidambar. 

Paiohuite. 

Sagse  or  sacsifi. 

Llaje. 

Palo  Jiote. 

Saccac. 

Llema  de  huevo. 

Palo  de  taray. 

Baro. 

Luin. 

Palo  de  matabuey. 

Sai-moshi. 

Lunelillo. 

Palo  de  zorro. 

Sapuyul. 

Palo  de  inatazano. 

Saugquiche. 

Madre  caoba. 

Palo  gare. 

Sare  negro. 

Madre  cacao. 

I'alo  cortez. 

Sare  espiuo. 

Madre  cabe. 

Palo  brazil. 

Sabacche. 

Madre    flecha. 

Palo  de  uva.                        Salvia  santa. 

Maninao. 

Palo  zapotillo.                     Salvia  silv-  • 

Matilisguate. 

Palo  de  poro.                      Sangre  de  drago. 

Maca  de  gallo. 

Palo   mata.                           Santa   inaria. 

Macaguite. 

Palo  de  jahoncillo.            Salanio. 

Madroncillo. 

Palo  guayabillita.               Salan. 

Madron. 

Palo   bianco.                       Sacuche. 

Madrono. 

Palo   inulato.                        Sal   de   venado. 

Mamey. 

Palo  lagarto. 

Sacalasque. 

Mangle. 

Palo  de  la  vida. 

Saca  sangre. 

Mario. 

Pacziuion. 

Sajat. 

Marillo. 

Patas. 

Sauco. 

Malacute. 

Patan. 

Sauce. 

Matasano. 

Paste  de  inico. 

Sacuayfln. 

Manchador. 

Pasak. 

Samo. 

Machinche. 

Panhul. 

Sapote. 

Maray. 

Pante. 

Sapote   cimarron. 

Majo  de  costa. 

Paraiso. 

Sebo  verde. 

Majagua. 

Patastillo. 

Shuhyuc. 

Mano  do  leon. 

Pas   de  alvez. 

Shaguay. 

Macuellx. 

Peine. 

Siquilla. 

Manchich. 

Pellejo. 

Sinicche. 

Manax. 

Picarromorro. 

Simunte. 

Malerillo. 

Pino. 

Soichaj. 

Manzano. 

Pinabete.                           '      Sosni. 

Membrillo. 

Pimiento   sflvestre. 

Sumaque. 

Mescal. 

Pi  mi  en  to. 

Suplcay. 

Melocoton.                            Pij. 

Sumante. 

27 


Native  Names  of  Woods  of  Guatemala  —  Continued. 

Suquinay. 

Toxok.                                   Yaxiabin. 

Suj. 

Toncontin.                              Yaje. 

Tontal.                                    Yaxnic. 

Tapalguacamayo.                Tripa  de  coyote.                  Yaxman. 

Tacamatillo.                         Tripa  de  Icon.                     Yesmo. 

Tabla.                                      Trompillo.                              Yupoc. 

Taje. 

Tuavacan. 

Yulbac. 

Tamarindo. 

Tzalan. 

Y'upe. 

Tapalcuite.                                                                          Yxirualame. 

Taruarindlllo.                         T'oa.                                         Yush. 

Tatascamite.                        Tjacamic. 

Tasisco  or  taxixcon.           Ujuste  Colorado.                  Zacaton. 

Tashlste.                               Ujuste  bianco.                     Zapoton. 

Taray   negro. 

I'fia  de  gato.                       Zapotillo. 

Tapiloco. 

Upay.                                     Zapotillo  de 

mico. 

Tan. 

Uvito. 

Zapote. 

Tatan. 

Urutay. 

Zapote  de  mico. 

Tarnay. 

Zapote  de  a 

ontaiia. 

Tapaljocote. 

Vacutzun. 

Zapiloco. 

Tenipiste. 

Vainilla. 

Zapoyulo. 

Tepecedro. 

Vara. 

Zigiya. 

Tepesuchel. 

Varilla. 

Zope. 

Testal. 

Volador. 

Zozin. 

Tepeguaje. 

Zopilote. 

Teste. 

Xilil. 

Zom  or  zon. 

Tlnte. 

Zulunte. 

Tijte. 

Yaj. 

Zucte. 

Tontolo. 

Yaiillo. 

Zulul. 

Torany. 

Yax-ek. 

Medicinal  Plants  of  Guatemala. 

Achiote. 

Cache. 

Contrayerba. 

Aguacate  de  mico. 

Cana  de  cristo. 

Con. 

Altamisa. 

Camote. 

Conte." 

Alcotan. 

Capulin    (raiz). 

Corteza  de  balsamo. 

Algodon  ixcaco. 

Capulin  (corteza). 

Corteza  de  copalchi. 

Algodon  bianco. 

Calaguala  (polypod). 

Corteza  de  copal. 

Algodon  de  corcho. 

Camotillo. 

Corteza  de  caulote. 

Algodon  de  ceiba. 

Calague. 

Corteza     de     casca- 

Alucema. 

(  'arnero. 

rilla. 

Almolonga. 

Caparroza. 

Corteza    de    guana- 

Aflil. 

Cacao. 

caste. 

Arnica. 

Canjui. 

Corteza     de    grana- 

Arrayan. 

Caulote. 

dillo. 

Cascarilla. 

Corteza  de  quina. 

Barba  de  viejo. 

Canutillo. 

Corteza      de      quie- 

Balsamo. 

<:amelia. 

brahacha. 

Barbasco. 

Capetanejo. 

Corteza  de  sasafraz. 

Bejuco  de  cruz. 

Cera  vegetal. 

Corteza      de      sare 

Bejuco  de  dul. 

Ceiba. 

negro. 

Bejuco  de  guaco. 

Chile. 

Corteza  de  yaje. 

Bejuco     de      ipeca- 

Cinco negritos. 

Corteza  de  duruche. 

cuanha. 

Cebollin. 

Corteza    de    chichi- 

Bejuco  de  barba  de 

Cinchona. 

pate. 

viejo. 

Chuchipate. 

Corteza    de    guaya- 

Bejuco  de  meona. 

Chuehupo. 

can. 

Bejuco  de  subiu. 

Chiquiguites. 

Corteza  de  nispero. 

Birrin. 

Chichlque. 

Corteza  de  morro. 

Birriuaque. 

Chilchujia. 

Corteza     de     oroto- 

Bomino  cimarron. 

Chicoria. 

guaj. 

Borraja. 

Chivato. 

Corteza      de      palo 

Bretonica. 

Coralillo. 

jtote. 

28 


Medicinal  Plants  of  Guatemala—  Continued. 

Corteza       de       cin- 

Hojas de  solojaj. 

1'anquil. 

chona. 

Hojas  de  laurel. 

Paraiso. 

Corteza    de    liquid- 

Hojas  de  tostonera. 

Palo  de  jiote. 

am  bar. 

Hojas  de  conejo. 

Palo  de  cruz. 

Corteza   de   matilis- 

Hojas  de  upay. 

Palo  de  la  vida. 

g  u  ate. 

Hojas  de  ruda. 

Poro  (yerba). 

Corteza  de  pimiento. 

Hojas  de  yerba  cul- 

Fez  del  mico. 

Corozo. 

ebra. 

Pimienta. 

Coroncho. 

Hojas  de  santisima 

Pifion. 

Corcho. 

trinidad. 

Copalchl. 

Hojas  de  chilchujia. 

Quina. 

Copal. 

Hojas  de  sante. 

Quiebrahacha. 

Culantro. 

Hojas  de  zorro. 

Culantrillo. 

Hojas  de  limon. 

Ruda. 

Culebra. 

Hoja  aromatica. 

Kabia. 

Cuatro  hinojos. 

Hoja  canjui. 

Kuibarbo. 

Cresta  de  gallo. 

Higuera  (hojas). 

Uaiz  de  poleo. 

Cuculmeca. 

Hicaque. 

Raiz  de  sutio. 

Huenon. 

Raiz  de  con. 

Doradilla. 

Raiz  de  gengibrillo. 

Doradilla     (adian- 

Incienso  de  monte. 

Raiz  de  jicamo. 

thum). 

Ipecacuanha  (bt'juco). 

Raiz  de  gengibre. 

Drotoguaj. 

Ixcaco. 

Raiz  de  hicaque. 

Drago. 

Raiz  de  orozuz. 

Dul. 

Jamaica. 

Raiz  de  borraja. 

Durnche. 

Jalapa. 

Raiz  de  mechoacan. 

Jicamo. 

Raiz  de  escorzonera. 

Escoba. 

Jenjibrillo. 

Raiz  de  panquil. 

Escobilla. 

Raiz     de     zarzapa- 

Escobilla  blanca. 

Lava  plato. 

rilla. 

Escorzonera. 

Limon. 

Raiz  de  canutillo. 

Loro. 

Raiz  de  huenon. 

Flor  doradilla. 

Laurel. 

Raiz  de  granadillo. 

Flor     de     hoja     de 

Llanten. 

Raiz  de  capulin. 

conejo. 

Liquidambar. 

Raiz  de  almolonga. 

Flor   de   mulatilla. 

Raiz  de  camotillo. 

Flor  de  muexto. 

Mapahuita. 

Raiz    de    cinco    ne- 

Flor  de  manzanilla. 

Mulatilla. 

gritos. 

Flor  de  orejuela. 

Manias. 

Raiz  de  varafunda. 

Flor  de  sintus. 

Michoacan. 

Raiz  de  valeriana. 

Flor  de  coroncho. 

Machul. 

Kaiz  de  ipecacuanha. 

Flor  de  corozo. 

Madre  de  maiz. 

Raiz  de  guapillo. 

Flor  de  sauguinaria. 

Manzanillo. 

Raiz  de   cebollin. 

Flor  de  zach. 

Meona. 

Raiz  de  calaguala. 

Fruta  pataste* 

Meona  alves. 

Raiz  de  ruibarbo. 

Malva  francosa. 

Raiz  de  calague. 

Gengibrillo. 

Malva  de  castilla. 

Raiz  de  rubin. 

Gengibre. 

Malvavisco. 

Raiz  de  jalapa. 

Granadillo. 

Murrulblanco. 

Raiz  de  cuculmeca. 

Granadillo  silvestre. 

Malva    silvestre. 

Raiz  de  orejuelo. 

Guaco. 

Mejorana. 

Raiz  de  guaco. 

Guanacaste. 

Malagueta. 

Raiz    de    yerba    de 

Guarumo. 

Matiliquate. 

conejo. 

Guayabo. 

Morro. 

Raiz  de  cont£. 

Guayacan. 

Monacillo. 

Raiz  de  nahuapate. 

Mejor  nada. 

Raiz  de  yulpate. 

Hoja  de  guayabo. 

Margarit. 

Raiz  de  lavaplato. 

Ho.ias  de  higueru. 

Raiz  de  alcotan. 

Hojas  de  verbena. 

Negritos. 

Raiz  de  escobillo. 

Hojas  mejor  nada. 

Nlapero. 

Raiz     de     contray- 

Ho.ias  de  poleo. 

Xardo. 

erba. 

Hojas  de  santa  do- 

Xaranjo  amargo. 

Raiz  de  tamagay. 

niingo. 

Nabo. 

Raiz  de  canjin. 

Hojas  de  barbaseo. 

Nahuapate. 

Raiz  de  pimienta. 

Hojas      de      salvia 

Nogal. 

Romero. 

real. 

Hojas  de  perro. 

Orozuz. 

Sauce. 

Hojas  del   aire. 

Orejuela. 

Salvia  santa. 

Hojas   de   hemela. 

Ortiga. 

Salvia  real. 

Hojas  de  malva. 

Ojo  de  venado. 

Salvia  de  monte. 

Hojas  de  sintul. 

Santo  dpmingo. 

Hojas  lava  platos. 

Poleo. 

Sanalotodo. 

Hojas  sana  lo  todo. 

Pericon. 

Sutio. 

29 


Medicinal  Plants  of  Guatemala—  Continued. 

Sintul. 

Tabaco. 

Yerba  vainilla. 

Sintus. 

Tostado. 

Yerba  del  toro. 

Semilla  de  cera  veg- 

Tostonera. 

Yerba  poleo. 

etal. 

Tazol. 

Yerba   marirarit. 

Semilla  de  orejueln. 

Tarol. 

Yerba  del  toro. 

Semilla  de  achiote. 

Tisach. 

Yerba  buena. 

Semilla     de     capar- 

Tuculcbunies. 

Yerba  de  culebra. 

roza. 

Tejutla. 

Yerba  de  la  nieona. 

Semilla  de  algodon. 

Tamagaz. 

Yerba  rabia. 

Semilla  de  paraiso. 

Turij. 

Yerba  de  conejo. 

Solo  un  pie. 

Yerba  del  medico. 

Sangre  de  drago. 

Tva. 

Yerba  del  poro. 

Solajaj. 

Upay. 

Yerba  de  carnero. 

Sasafraz. 

Yerba  barbona. 

Sare  negro. 

Verbena. 

Yerba  del  ciervo. 

Sacatinta. 

Valeriana. 

Yuquilla. 

Santisima  trinidad. 

Vainilla. 

Yulpate. 

Suchumacan. 

Varafunda. 

Yaje. 

Sabin. 

Venado. 

Yuca. 

Setesac. 

Sanguinaria. 

Yerba  de  oroznz. 

Zarza  de  monte. 

Yerba     de     sanalo- 

Zarzaparrilla. 

Ti>  del  monte. 

todo. 

Zacaton. 

T<5  de  limon. 

Yerba  del  cancer. 

Zach. 

Tomate  del  monte. 

Yerba  de  santo  do- 

Toro. 

mingo. 

IV. 


FAUNA. 


The  fauna  of  Guatemala  is  naturally  varied.  As  Mr.  Juan 
Rodriguez,  a  very  competent  and  respectable  zoologist  of  Gua- 
temala, says,  the  geographical  position,  the  diversity  of  climate, 
produced  partly  by  its  topography,  the  great  number  of  rivers 
and  creeks  found  everywhere  and  the  richness  and  exuberance 
of  the  vegetation  support  the  life  of  an  immense  number  of 
animals.  It  also  happens  that  a  number  of  migratory  birds 
which  periodically  pass  from  the  northern  to  the  southern 
hemisphere  go  through  the  territory  of  Guatemala.  A  num- 
ber of  birds  also  terminate  their  excursions  in  Guatemala,  stay- 
ing several  months,  some  for  procreation  and  others,  like 
doves,  ducks  and  birds  of  prey,  only  for  food.  The  territory 
of  Guatemala  has  two  species  of  monkeys  (the  Mono  and  the 
Mico).  The  first  is  Mycctcs  rillosns,  the  second  the  Ateles 
rcllcrosus.  Of  Cheiroptera  there  are  thirty-seven  species,  in- 
cluding vampires.  To  condense  the  account,  this  list  is  given 
of  the  principal  animals,  with  their  vernacular  names: 

Name.  Scientific  Name. 

Mi:.-irana -'Cit. 

"         niarina  >itv 

Tigre ¥•  Us  ma  n. 


Ciiurel. 
Tigrillo  .. 

Leon 

Leoncillo  , 
Tejun 


pardaHf, 

tigrina. 
concolor. 


i: 


et/ra. 


<  'ny  >tr ._ t'tinix  Intrant. 

Gato  de  moute ]'itl])e*  rirginianit*. 


Nam  Scientific  Name 

Mapa--lie Tifirijon  lotur. 

(iuia  dc  lecn /Int-xnrix  siunirlirii.-ii. 

PJZl'tl- X'tfitKl    IKIxifll. 

Micoleon fn-rnli-iilex  i-nntiir  >l-inlux 

C'oinadrcja Muxtrlit  brasiliensis. 

Perico  lijero Hitlirtix  bnrbnni. 

Zorillo M< iili Hi"  >n>-/i/iiticn. 

"      "       puturiux. 

"      Cunt  i  nit  us  niniiurito. 

Perro  de  ajrua l.ittrn .felinn. 

\'ara  marina \tnnntns  anslfnlis. 

Danta Tnpirux  bnirili. 

"      "        doiri. 

Coche  de  monte Dirtily  lex  tnjncu. 

Jabali Dicotylet  Inbintus. 

Vcnado Cur  incus  rirginianut. 

(iuizizil  "        /•i/.rinux. 

Ardilla ^ciiirnptenix  rulurella. 


griisftiflarus. 
vuriegutiis. 


'        .............................       "        deppei. 

Raton  ...............................  Mit.s  tmisrttliis. 

Raton  de  monte  .....................  Hespfrumys  tet/tiiiia. 


.....................          "  conesi. 

"       •'          ....................         "          nmHcaudatvt. 

....................  (>clitt"il<in  mexicanus. 

....................  Sif/inri(ln>i  h  ixpiilux. 

....................  yeotoiitaferruginta. 

Taltuza  .............................  Gemni/s  mf.i-irattitr,-. 

"       ............................       "        /lixpirliis. 

Raton  de  monte  .....................  Ileterrnnys  dfstnarfxtirinus. 

"        "         '  .....................          "         longicaudatus. 

Puerco  espin  ........................  Synetlieres  mexicanus. 

Cotuza  .............................  DttsyiiftH-ta  juinctata. 

Tepescuintle  ........................  Ciclvfjeityspaca. 

Conejo  ..............................  Lepus  paluxtrix. 

Arinado  ............................  Tatiixiti  noretncinctn. 

Oso  colmenero  ......................  Myrmecophaga  jitbata. 

•'         ......................  tetradai.-tylr. 

"    de  platanar  .....................  i.  iiftutiirux  didaetylvt. 

Tacuasin  ............................  Didflphys  rir<iinunia. 

............................        "          gu:'ca  , 

"      raton  .......................        "          mtirina. 

"      de  agua  ....................  Cheirontctex  raii^gatut; 


BIRDS. 

There  are  forty-nine  species  of  Butcos,  Fakos  and  other 
birds  of  prey;  sixteen  of  owls  and  nightbirds,  and  410  of 
smaller  birds,  besides  a  number  of  gallinaceae. 

Herewith  is  a  list  of  the  more  common  birds : 

Senzontle. Whims  r/i/nix. 

Pito  Real  Myrindectfn  obsciiritx. 

Guarda  barranca "  unic'ilor. 

Chipe I>fii<li'ceca,  species. 

"    gorrion (.'tn'tbn  cyunta. 

Galandria ('lilt>pln»tin,  sjiecieg. 

"  A'"/''"'""';  species. 

Cardenal Tnnngrn,  species. 

Alcalde  mayor  Rhamphocellitx. 

Chiltote Oi-tn-iix   species 

Oropendola lit  inn/if  lumitizumx. 


Clianis  .............................  CynttiK-itta. 

I'rraca  ..............................  Oaloetttafomoto, 

Sanate  ..............................  V"'"''  •dli'*'  innrrurut. 

l;.->>]:indar  ..........................  •/'•  "      •••<"('(. 


Oliliris  or  Gorrioncs  .......  .........  Trwhilidtr,  28  genera  and  38  species. 

raqiintfros   ........................  /'i'-ititf.  13  SJH- 

(inlonilrinas  .........................  J'n,iiii//il<t  *'iin-ti  Ifiti-onymt. 

Turohojos  ...........................  I/"  m  ntiil;i  .  'i  species. 

:x-s  ..........................  A/'-filiiu't:r,  it  .-;  • 

Quetzal  .............................  Pharnnini  ros  ntoeino. 

CuculiJo  ...........................  Cuculug,8  s\« 

Curliurones  .........................  RhamptuiKlMte,  3  species. 

Lores  or  Pericos  ....................  Pxitt<ici<tif,  14  si  .  .  i.  -. 

El  Pangil  ...........................  Crex  globicere*. 

Pa  TO  de  Caclio  .......................  Oreopfiasis  dtrbyanus. 

I'livu  del  l'et,'n  ......................  Jfcleoffrts  ocellata. 

ivrdio-s  and  Codornices  .............  Perdicidge,  7  species. 

l'ali.jn:;s  .............................  Columbtdie,  7  species. 

Zanrudos    ..........................  (frallatoret. 

Garzits  and  Garzones  ................  Afdeidtt,  19  species. 

"          ................  Platfillidae. 

................  Ciconioda. 

•'         ................  Jbidx. 

Galliuetiis  .........................  Itallidtr,        "1 

Gitllaretits  ..........................  ParrMu;        I  .,„„..  -„ 

coiiun-.ios  .........................  Oandridm,  \  About  *° 

.14  ..........................  &''>li'i*i<-ida,  J 

"         ..........................  f'n/i/i 

Alratr-u-es  or  Pelicanos  ..............  {  **"?*'  J£S£eh 

ATB  horcado  ........................  Tregetta  aqitiln. 

Pato  aguja  ..........................  My<:teria  Americana. 

"          ........................   .  Ansereg. 

Palouias  marinas  ....................  C'llymbidu. 


REPTILES. 

TOETUGAS. 

CAelonix,  9  species.        Chelonia  A/jazizii. 

LAGARTOg. 

Crocodilui  moreltti.        Crocodilus  paciflcus. 

SAURIO8. 

•tianfc,  6  species.        Jyuanianff,  30  species. 

Iguana. 

Garrobo.  I^icertianos,         "I 

Ctitete  (fiitfiliti.'Hs  rittatun).  C.il.-idiauos,  i    xf 

Corytophanvu.  AuWsl^nianos. 

Anvlis.  tM-iucoideanus,     J 

OFIDIOS  6  CULEBRAS. 

Tiplopidos.  '  ..  .     1  Boa  imperntur. 

Pitouidos  6  Boideos.  "^  ]    "     Jlexic<u,<t. 

COLCBRIDOS. 

Culebras.  Zuinbadoras.  Leptophis.  Heterodon. 

n.-ras.  Calamaria.  Tropidonotus.  Corales. 

Raueras.  Elaphis.  Xedodou. 


V1PERIDOS. 

Vibor.t  rastellana. 
Crotalidos. 


-'•\(Ci-nt(ilusll»i-fidus).  p,ntiles      \^tropo». 

Xamagoz  (Hot,  lles'    fLachesii. 


ANFIB10S  6  BATBACIOS. 

Ranas,  9  species.  Ninos. 

Siipos  (BufonidH'},  5  species.  Pie  de  nil 

Tapelena  (Siphonopt  mexicana). 


Fishes.     There  are  over  three  hundred  different  species 
of  fishes;  fourteen  species  were  found  in  the  lake  of  Peten. 


33 


three  in  the  lake  of  Atitlan.  seven  in  the  lake  of  Amatitlan, 
thirteen  in  the  Motagua  River,  thirteen  in  the  Usumacinta 
River  and  ten  in  the  Rio  Polochic.  The  most  appreciated 
fishes  are  the 

Tepeinechiii Agnostonta  microps.  Juilin 

Mojarra Heron.  Bagreortante  ..  Arias. 

Bobo Eleotris  dormitatrif.  Peje Ltpidottem us  trnpicnt. 

Of  Moluscs  the  following  are  edible: 

Helix  Giesebrechtii Almejas Jfi/tilun. 

Jutes Melania.  Ostras <ntrta. 

The  insects  are  too  numerous  to  be  enumerated  here. 

A  great  number  of  these  animals  here  enumerated  have 
economic  value,  such  as  the  skins  of  deer  and  other  mammals, 
the  feathers  of  species  of  Ara,  Trogon,  Pteroglossus,  Chrysotis, 
Rhamphastus,  Pharomacrus,  Ceryle,  Hylomanes,  Melanespes, 
Cotinga,  Chirochiphia,  Pipra,  Milvulus,  Yeterus,  Xanthura, 
Agelaeus  phcenicerus,  Cyanospiza,  Tanagra,  Chlorophanes, 
Euphonia,  Calliste,  Coereba,  Pyranga,  Rhamphocelus,  Sialia, 
etc.,  the  shells  of  carey  (Testudd),  the  skins  of  a  number  of 
snakes  and  alligators,  many  fishes  and  moluscs,  butterflies, 
etc.  Also  some  living  animals,  such  as  parrots,  small  birds, 
monkeys,  etc.,  are  articles  of  commerce,  although  of  slight 
importance. 


V. 


POPULATION. 


Guatemala  has  1,364,678  inhabitants,  of  whom  more  than 
two-thirds  are  pure  Indians  maintaining  to  a  great  extent  their 
old  customs.  There  are  only  11,300  foreigners  found  in  the 
entire  Republic. 

There  are  twenty-two  Departments,  with  ten  large  cities 
and  twenty-two  smaller  ones  and  304  townships.  Over  1,000,- 
ooo  of  the  people  live  at  an  altitude  of  3,000  feet  above  the 
sea,  and  in  a  moderate  healthful  climate. 

In  the  northern  half  of  the  Republic,  covered  mostly  with 
humid  forests,  there  are  but  two  and  a  half  inhabitants  on  a 
square  kilometer;  in  the  southern  half,  which  is  less  humid- 
and  has  a  less  exuberant  vegetation,  there  are  25.6  inhabi- 
tants. In  the  highest  regions  (as  Alta  Verapaz,  Quiche  and 
Huehuetenango)  the  density  of  the  population  is  10.4  per  sq. 
km.  The  dry  regions  of  prairies  and  chaparrals,  with  a  vege- 
tation of  pines  and  oaks,  have  30.1  inhabitants  on  the  same 
area.  Lower  down,  on  the  slopes  of  the  volcanic  chain,  front- 
ing on  the  Pacific  Ocean,  15  inhabitants  are  found  on  a  sq.  km. 
In  the  hot  region  the  density  of  population  is  not  much  over 
0.4  of  the  same  space.  The  average  density  for  the  entire  re- 
public is  12.5  per  sq.  km. 

The  density  of  population  per  sq.  km.  in  each  Department 
is  as  follows: 

35 


Totonicapan 95.6 

Sacatepequez 74  2 

Guatemala 70.6 

Ain;it  it  liili 48  7 

Quezaltenango 47.6 

Solula :•{(>.  l 

Bun  Marcos 27  7 

Chiquimula 1:74 


Chimaltenaiigo 27.2 

Bochitepeqnez 22.5 

Santa  Roca 16.5 

Retalhuleu It;  5 

Baja  Verapaz 153 

ilutiapa 16.0 

.lalapa 15  9 


Huehuetenango 14.4 

Quiche        13.6 

Zacapa 127 

Ksciiintla 9.1 

A  Ita  Verapaz 90 

Izabal 1.0 

PetOn 0.2 


The  population,  separating  the  mixed  and  white  people 
(Ladinos)  from  pure  Indians,  in  the  different  Departments  is 
as  follows: 


Xaine. 


I  I 

Ladinos.  Indians. 


Name. 


Ladinos   Indians. 


Guatemala  

88,562 
7,976 

58,125 
120,249 

Santa  Rosa  

48,071 
15617 

7,703 
21  519 

38,375 

86,865 

29,800 

it;  -;7i 

37,852 

85,740 

19,575 

24  181 

4,378 

105,262 

17,831 

21,842 

Huehuetenango  

17,325 

83,585 

Zacapa  

22,679 

16,391 

14431 

77  002 

35  626 

17  042 

SoloUt  

5,983 

60,535 

'25,0(H) 

11  163 

18,761 

46,664 

25,450 

10,700 

10,600 

64,655 

Izabal  

4,918 

3525 

14,550 

43039 

Peti-n  

4  877 

3  443 

I 

The  total  population  in  regard  to  age  is  composed  as  fol- 


lows : 


1  year  66.837 

30  to  40  ye 
40  "  60 
60   "   80 
80   "   90 
90  "100 
Over  100 

ars 

167,317 
164,644 
60.41)3 
14,899 
4,094 
893 

1  to    6  vears 
6   "   14      " 
14   "   18      " 
18   "  21      " 
21   "  30      " 

203,910 
232,948 
123,852 
101,153 
223,725 

Of  this  population,  888,615  persons  are  single  (450,196 
men,  438,419  women);  396,696  married  (196,730  men,  199,- 
966  women);  79,367  widowed  (30,546  men,  48,821  women). 

There  are  a  few  Chinamen  and  a  number  of  Negroes,  mu- 
lattoes  and  Zambos  on  the  sea  coasts,  in  La  Libertad  (Peten), 
Panzos  (Alta  Verapaz),  Salama  and  San  Jeronimo  (Baja  Vera- 
paz) and  along  the  Rio  de  los  Esclavos  (Santa  Rosa). 

Of  the  total  population  there  are  further,  by  nationality, 
1,303  Americans  (mostly  Jews  from  the  West);  532  Spaniards; 
453  Italians;  399  Germans;  349  English;  272  French. 

By  occupation,  327,594  persons  are  laborers;  46,054 
bakers  of  tortillas  (maize-bread);  21,930  weavers;  13,034  mer- 
chants; 9,653  seamstresses;  7,759  servants  and  female  cooks. 


Again,  1,240,092  persons  are  illiterates;  827,058  are  urban 
population;  1,356,105  are  Catholics. 

The  following  lists  give  the  names  of  the  principal  cities 
and  municipalities  and  their  population,  as  well  as  the  altitude 
of  each: 


Name. 

Population. 

Altitude   above 
the  sea  in  meters. 

I>.-|>artment. 

liiiatemiila   

u»  ixH>-7-_>,ooo 

1.4M> 

(iiiatrmalu. 

Totonirapaii  

33,000 

2,429 

Totonieapan. 

24000 

.)  .,,;., 

('..ban  

23,OCO 

1,234 

13  000 

35G 

13000 

1,410 

Ksi-uintla  

33,000 

384 

Ksruintla. 

11   1  K  ,U 

862 

10  IV  HI 

1,3*31 

'1  l  II  1 

1  102 

Other  populous  municipalities  are: 


Name. 

Population. 

Altitude  above  j 
Department, 
the  sea  in  meters. 

12,000 
13,000 
14,000 
10,000 
10,000 
15,000 
10,000 
9,000 
10,000 
22,000 
13,000 
14,000 
12,000 
28,000 
10,000 
13.000 
19,000 
10,000 
10,000 
11,000 
3T..OOO 
11,000 
14,000 
11,000 
15,000 
22,000 
11,000 
10,000 
15,000 
10,000 

156 
1,693 
868 
2,170 
298 
1,811 
224 
2,200 
1,500-2,000 
2,000--->,500 
2,000 
25  1-500 
250-500 
2,000-2,500 
1,000-1,500 
500-1,000 
LOOO-2,000 
1.590-2,000 
400 
1,000-1.500 
1,000-1,500 
1,000-1,590 
2,000-2,500 
500-800 
2,590-3,000 
2,500-3000 
2,000 
1,000-1,600 
2,000-2.:  Wi 
2,000 

Zacapa. 

Qlli.-lir. 

.Tutiapa. 
Huehuetenango. 
Retalhuleu. 
Solnla. 
Suehitepcijuez. 
San  Marcos. 
Sololfi. 
Quiche. 
San  Marcos. 
Alta  Verapaz. 
Oliiquiumla. 
Totonieapan. 
Jalapa. 
Baja  Verapaz. 
Guatemala 
Cliiuialtenango. 
Esculntla. 
Amatitlan. 
Alta  Verapaz. 
Alta  Verapaz. 
San  Marcos. 
Retalhnleu 
Quezaltenango. 
Totonieapan. 
Totonieapan. 
Santa  Rosa. 
San  Marcos. 
San  Marcos. 

Qui.-liC-  

.liltl;i|>a    

fJololA       

Mazatenango  

Atitlan  

Comitancillo  

San  1'i'ilro  Pinula  

Sau  IVJro  Sacatepequez  

Tarani'i        

Tejutla  

The  population  of  Guatemala  lives  in  325  houses  of  two 
stories,  53,574  of  one  story,  and  on  171,604  ranchos. 

Public  education:  Elementary  tuition  is  given  in 
schools  of  the  first  and  secondary  grades.  There  are  now 
about  1,309  schools.  The  average  daily  attendance  in  .the 


37 


national  schools  was  32,958  boys  and  19,330  girls,  3,232  adults 
and  i, 860  of  both  sexes  in  the  private  schools,  making  a  total 
of  57,386.  In  addition  there  were  also  thirteen  kindergartens. 

In  1890  there  were  1,252  schools  throughout  the  Re- 
public, divided  as  follows:  462  country  schools,  760  city 
schools  and  30  private  schools;  or,  classified  in  another  way, 
691  for  small  boys,  369  for  small  girls,  48  mixed,  89  for  work- 
men, 15  additional  for  small  boys  and  10  for  small  girls. 
These  employ  1,531  teachers,  987  males  and  544  fenfales. 

There  are  several  public  institutes  in  which  higher  grades 
of  instruction  are  given  gratuitously.  There  are  two  estab- 
lishments of  this  kind  for  girls  in  Guatemala  and  Quezalten- 
ango  and  three  for  young  men,  besides  one  in  Chiquimula. 
In  the  Capital,  as  well  as  in  Quezaltenango,  the  Government 
has  esablished  special  schools  of  law,  medicine  and  pharmacy. 
It  has  also  founded  a  school  for  engineers,  a  polytechnic 
college  for  those  intending  to  follow  a  military  career,  a 
commercial  school,  an  agricultural  school,  an  Academy  of 
Fine  Arts,  a  normal  school  for  young  women,  another  for 
young  men  incorporated  with  the  Central  Institute,  and 
lastly  a  Conservatory  of  Music. 

In  order  to  facilitate  the  education  of  the  working  classes 
night  schools  have  been  organized  in  several  cities,  and  also 
public  libraries  opened,  which  are  endowed  by  private  dona- 
tions and  by  State  appropriations. 

In  the  schools  of  arts  and  trades  a  general  education  is 
given  in  connection  with  their  technical  or  special  instruction. 

In  the  city  of  Guatemala  there  is  a  fine  national  library, 
in  which,  besides  over  30,000  books,  there  are  several  valu- 
able collections  of  documents  and  inedited  works. 

There  is  also  a  great  number  of  newspapers  in  the  Capital 
and  other  principal  cities. 

Indians:  As  the  Indian  population  is  the  most  numerous, 
in  the  following  pages  some  very  interesting  particulars  are 
given. 

These  aboriginal  people  are  descendants  of  many  tribes, 
which,  at  the  time  of  the  conquest,  were  found  in  the  fol- 
lowing divisions: 


1.  States  of  the  Pipiles,  the  Panatacatl,  Cu/catlan 
(Salvador),  and  the  so-called  Caci.qazgos  of  the  Pipiles,  occu- 
pying the  Departments  of  Escuintla  and  Jutiapa,  and  the 
parts  bordering  Salvador. 

'1.  Slates  of  the  Kingdom  Quiche,  divided  into  the  king- 
doms of  Quiche,  of  the  Maims  and  of  the  Cakyac,  and  into 
the  cacigazgos  of  the  Cuchumatanes,  of  Uspantlan  and  of 
Tujal,  occupying  the  present  Departments  of  San  Marcos, 
Retalhuleu,  Ouczaltenango,  Suchitepequez,  Totonicapan, 
Quiche,  Solola,  Huehuetenango  and  Baja  Verapaz. 

3.  States    of   the    Cakchiquelcs,    divided   into   the    king- 
doms of  Iximche  and  Yampuk  and  into  the  cacigazgos  of  the 
Akahates  6  Pocomames,  comprising  the  present  Departments 
of  Chimaltenango,  Sacatepequez,  Amatitlan,  Guatemala  and 
parts  of  Santa  Rosa,  Jalapa  and  Jutiapa. 

4.  States  of  the  Mayas,  divided  into  Acalan,   Mazatlan, 
(Ouiacho),  Taiza  and  Mopan,  and  into  the  cacigazgos  of  the 
Lacandones,  corresponding  with   Peten  and  some  parts  of 
Quiche  and  Alta  Verapaz. 

.">.  States  of  the  Chortles,  composed  of  the  kingdoms 
of  Copan  and  of  Esquipulas,  situated  in  the  present  Depart- 
ments of  Zacapa,  Chiquimula  and  in  parts  of  Izabal. 

6.  Independent  cacigazgos  of  the  Cholcs,    found   in  Izabal 
-and  parts  of  Alta  Verapaz. 

7.  Independent  cacigazgos  of  Tezulutan,  in  Baja  Verapaz. 

B  Independent  Kingdom  of  the  T~utnhiles,  south  of  the 
ake  of  Atitlan  in  the  present  Department  of  Solola. 

9.  Independent  cacigazgos  of  the  Xincas  in  the  present 
Department  of  Santa  Rosa  and  in  part  of  Jutiapa: 

How  slight  the  influence  of  the  Spaniard  and  the  Repub- 
lican governments  of  Guatemala  has  been  in  civilizing  those 
Indians  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  seventeen  different  languages 
are  still  spoken  among  them. 

These  languages  are: 

1.  Ouekchi ,  spoken  mostly  in  Verapaz,  namely  in  Coban, 
LanqUin,.  Panzos,  Cahabon,  Chimaja,  Rio  Negro,  Coyante, 
Golfo  Dulce,  etc. 

39 


2.  Quiche,   spoken   in    Chicacao,   Mazatenango,   Retalhu- 
leu,  San  Felipe,  Quezaltenango,  Totonicapan,  Santa  Cruz  de 
Quiche,  Zacapulas,  Rabinal  and  Saltan. 

3.  Mam,    spoken    mostly   in    the    Departments   of    San 
Marcos  and  Huehuetenango,  in  such  places  as  Mercedes,  San 
Pedro,  San  Marcos,  Tejutlaj,  Tuxtla  chico,  Teatitan,  Chiantla 
and  Todos  Santos. 

4.  Cakckiquelt    mostly    spoken    in    the  Departments    of 
Solola,    Chimaltenango   and   Sacatepequez,    in    Patulul,    An- 
tigua, Mexico  Viejo,  San  Jose,  Eucuentros  and  Solola. 

5.  Maya,  spoken  in  the  Department  of  Peten  (in  Flores, 
Santa  Barbara,  Dolores,  San  Toribio,  San  Juan,  Chuntuque 
and  islands). 

6.  Pocomam,   spoken  in  the  Departments  of   Amatitlan, 
Sacatepequez  and  Guatemala  (Amatitlan,  Mixco,  Chinantla, 
San  Antonio,  Canoas,  Mixco  Yiejo  and  separately  in  Pinula 
and  Jilotepeque. 

7.  Charti,   spoken    in     Chiquimula,    Ipala,    Jocotan    and 
Taquaimi  in  the  Department  of  Chiquimula. 

8.  Poconchi,  spoken  in  the  upper  valley  of  the  Polochic 
River,  in  Pancus,  Tucuru,  Tachic,  San  Cristobal  and  Chixay. 

9.  Zutuhil,  spoken  from  the  southern  shore  of  the  lake 
of  Atitlan  to  near  Chicacao  and  Mazatenango  in  the  Depart- 
ment of  Solola. 

10.  Chujy  spoken   in  the   upper  part  of  Huehuetenango, 
especially  in  Ameleo,  San  Mateo,  Gracias  and  near  Xeuton. 

11.  Xinea,    spoken    in     the    vicinity     of    Chiquimutilla, 
Alzatate,  Jalapa,  Yupiltepeque  and  Jumaitepeque  in  the  De- 
partments of  Santa  Rosa  and  Jutiapa. 

12.  Ixil,  spoken  in  the  Department  of    Quiche,    around 
Cozal,  Nebaj,  Chajut  and  Horn. 

13.  Jacalteca,    spoken     in    Santa     Eulalia,     Solonia,     San 
Juan,  Jacaltenango  and  Camoha  in  the  Department  of  Hue- 
huetenango. 

14.  Aguacateca,  spoken  in  Aguatan,  Department  of  Hue- 
huetenango. 

40 


I").  Cspanlea,  spoken  around  Uspantan,  Department  of 
Quiche. 

10.  Caraibe,  spoken  around  Livingston  on  the  Gulf  of 
Honduras,  Department  of  Izabal. 

17.  Pipil,  spoken  in  separate  places  in  the  Departments  of 
Jutiapa,  Zacapa  and  Baja  Yerapaz. 

The  Spanish  language  is  only  generally  spoken  along  the 
Pacific  coast,  in  the  city  of  Guatemala  and  in  the  direction  of 
Salvador  and  Honduras,  as  well  as  in  the  valley  of  the  Mo- 
tagua  River. 

The  clothing  of  the  Indians  varies  as  much  as  their 
languages.  The  principal  raw  materials  for  it  are  cotton, 
wool,  silk,  palm  leaf  and  maguey  fibre.  They  are  now  mostly 
cotton,  wool  and  silk  yarns  imported  and  woven  by  Indian 
women  in  their  primitive  looms.  The  greatest  variety  is  seen 
in  skirts,  and  this  as  well  in  raw  material,  and  in  dimensions, 
especially  lengths,  as  in  color  and  adornments.  Particularly 
fine  looking  skirts  for  women,  called  Hnipilcs,  are  found  in 
Totonicapan,  Baja  Yerapaz,  Alta  Yerapaz,  Quiche  and  Chi- 
maltenango.  Also  in  women's  scarfs,  called  rebozos,  a  great 
variety  of  colors  distinguishes  one  tribe  from  another.  The 
wardrobe  of  an  Indian  is  not  much  varied;  a  hat,  a  pair  of 
sandals,  trousers,  a  belt  of  wool,  silk  or  cotton,  called  fa/a 
or  banda,  a  shirt,  and  sometimes  a  jacket,  compose  his  com- 
plete outfit. 

Often  a  change  in  the  habits  of  the  Indian  illustrates  the 
eagerness  of  statesmen  to  obtain  a  quick  result  in  civilizing 
him.  rather  than  any  transformation  of  character.  So  far, 
the  Indian  sticks  to  his  customary  clothing  and  his  own 
language,  as  no  Government  has  ventured  to  incur  the  ill- 
will  of  the  farmers  and  proprietors,  who  fear  in  a  change  of 
Indian  habits  a  change  in  labor  conditions,  which  might  mean 
a  serious  embarrassment  of  their  interest. 

The  Indian  lives  generally  in  a  hut  of  any  form,  made 
with  wooden  posts,  bamboo  or  cornstalks,  straw,  or  other 
material  easily  handled.  Adobes  or  stones  are  seldom  used, 
and  when  used  it  is  mostly  for  a  church  or  government  build- 
ing, as  in  olden  times,  when  temples  and  public  buildings  alone 
were  built  of  durable  material. 

41 


Speaking  of  older  structures,  Guatemala  possesses  several 
centres  of  important  and  interesting  architectural  remains  of 
ancient  Indian  civilization.  They  are  Tical  (Peten)  near  the 
frontier  of  Yucatan,  Quiche  or  Utitlan  or  Cumarcaah,  near 
Santa  Cruz  de  Quiche,  Iximche,  near  Tecpan  (Guatemala),  in 
the  Department  of  Chimaltenango,  Santa  Lucia  and  Cut- 
zumalguapa  in  the  Department  of  Escuintla,  where  the  cele- 
brated D.  A.  Bastian  collected  beautiful  antiquities,  Senaca 
Mecallo,  near  Comapa  in  the  Department  of  Jutiapa,  and 
Quirigua,  southward  of  the  port  of  Izabal,  on  the  left  hand 
shore  of  the  Motagua  River. 

Next  to  architectural  works,  some  idols  and  all  kinds  of 
earthenware  pottery  have  received  the  attention  of  the  scien- 
tific w'orld,  especially  specimens  from  Quiche,  Alta  and  Baja 
Yerapaz,  Chimaltenango,  Huehuetenango,  Jalapa  and  Jutiapa. 
Antique  pottery  has  also  been  found  in  the  lake  of  Atitlan 
near  the  shore,  and  some  large  stone  idols  have  been  dis- 
covered on  the  slopes  of  the  Volcan  de  Agua. 

Pottery  still  forms  an  important  industry  of  the  aborig- 
ines. The  most  celebrated  earthenware  comes  from  Totoni- 
capan,  San  Marcos,  Quezaltenango  and  Chimaltenango. 

The  principal  industry  of  Guatemalan  Indians  is  textile, 
to  which  should  be  added  the  manufacture  of  hats,  baskets, 
ropes,  nets,  hammocks,  sacks  and  all  kinds  of  clothing.  All 
these  industries  are,  of  course,  domestic,  and  mostly  in  the 
hands  of  women,  who  also  are  the  sellers  or  merchants. 

Men  cultivate  the  soil,  planting  maize,  tobacco,  beans, 
bananas,  etc.,  and  they  work  as  ordered  by  the  authorities. 

The  Indians  bear  also  the  burden  of  maintaining  the 
roads  as  a  personal  tax.  Since  the  conquest  an  annual  tax 
of  tAvo  pesos  has  been  imposed  on  every  man  from  eighteen 
years  of  age  up,  or  four  clays'  work  in  opening  or  repairing 
roads. 

Notwithstanding  this  tax,  which  has  been  collected  for 
centuries,  very  few  roads  are  in  existence,  and  most  of  those 
which  do  exist  are  in  a  poor  condition. 

The  Indians  also  in  many  other  ways  are  suffering  the 
adverse  consequences  of  the  Spanish  colonial  dominion.  The 
practice  of  exploiting  the  mass  of  the  people  continues  to  this 

42 


day.  Very  little  has  been  done  to  raise  the  intellectual  level 
of  the  Indians  and  to  emancipate  them  from  superstition  and 
misery.  Out  of  a  population  of  1,364,678  there  are  1,240,092 
without  any  education. 

There  is  also  an  agricultural  law  which  compels  the  In- 
dian to  work  in  a  way  that  amounts  to  practical  slavery  not 
unlike  that  of  olden  times.  The  laborer  must  obey  the  orders 
of  the  authorities;  he  cannot  leave  his  place  under  any  circum- 
stances until  his  work  is  done  or  his  debts  paid.  Each  one 
of  them  carries  with  him  a  book  in  which  his  debts  are  stated, 
and  from  it  may  be  learned  his  obligation  for  future  work. 
It  is  a  common  occurrence  that  these  obligations  are  sold, 
which  means  the  forced  transfer  of  the  working  man  from 
one  place  to  another  without  any  consideration  for  him.  A 
sure  consequence  of  such  a  system  is  the  exclusion  of  free 
labor  as  understood  in  the  United  States.  Under  it  wages 
are  very  low.  and  ho  foreigner  will  compete  for  them.  Hence, 
immigration  and  colonization,  with  their  resulting  advantages, 
cannot  be  expected  in  Guatemala  for  many  years  to  come. 


VI. 


AGRICULTURE   AND   LIVE    STOCK. 


The  larger  part  of  the  population  in  Guatemala  is  occu- 
pied with  agriculture.  The  different  agricultural  products 
raised  depend  on  the  elevation  of  the  lands  above  sea  level  and 
on  climatical  conditions.  Their  distribution  is  clearly  indi- 
cated in  the  table  at  the  end  of  the  chapter  on  Vegetation. 
Economically,  the  most  important  plant  cultivated  in  Guate- 
mala is  the  coffee  tree,  and  especially  the  coffca  arabica. 

The  crop  of  coffee  in  1894  (the  latest  statistical  data)  was 
66,256,600  pounds,  of  which  the 


Department  of  Guatemala,          produced  on       417,135  trees       144,200  poi 

Sacatepequez, 

1,906,195    • 

1,391,403 

i  'himaltenango, 

5,9i>4.<  t'rj    • 

1.600 

Amatitlan, 

3,406,807    ' 

2.  112,100 

Escuintla, 

4,116,242    ' 

4,464,500    • 

Santa  Rosa, 

5,480,326    ' 

3.116,500 

Sololu, 

4,946,459    ' 

4,930,800 

Quezaltenango, 

14,012,007     ' 

14,849,800 

Suchitepequez, 

4,949,128    ' 

7,7(32,600 

Retelhnlen, 

:;.7.-.4..VJ4     ' 

3,301,600 

San  Marcos, 

10,954,767    ' 

12,184,600 

Huehuetenango, 

72,888    ' 

111,100 

Quiche, 

422,567     ' 

4,200 

Baja  Verapaz, 

280,124     • 

239,400 

Alta  Verapaz, 

1.  7.-.7.130    ' 

4.314,300 

Peten, 

19,322    ' 

17,700 

Izabal, 

149,000    ' 

1,000 

/acapa, 

658,430     ' 

122,700 

riiiquimula,                                    558,260     ' 

248,000 

Jalapa,                           "                   2">,722    '• 

18,200 

Jutiapa,                                              172,8-34     " 

97,100       ' 

Total,  67,054,928  trees  <J6,l5G,r>OJ  pounds. 


The  principal  coffee  regions  are : 

In  Quezaltenango:   Colomba,  Chuva  and  Palmar. 


44 


In  San  Marcos:  Tumbador,  San  Pablo,  San  Cristobal 
and  Progreso. 

In  Suchitepequez:  San  Francisco,  Zapotitlan  and  San 
Antonio. 

In  Chimaltenango:  Pochuta,  San  Pedro,  Yepocapa  and 
Acatenango. 

In  Santa  Rosa:  San  Jose  de  Barberena. 

In  Retalhuleu :  San  Felipe. 

In  Solola:  Chicacao,  Santa  Barbara  and  Patulul. 

In  Escuintla:  Escuintla  and  Santa  Lucia  Cotzumalguape. 

In  Amatitlan:  Amatitlan  and  San  Miguel  Petapa. 

In  Alta  Yerapaz:   San  Pedro,  Carcha  and  Coban. 

In  Zacapa:   Gualan. 

In  Baja  Yerapaz:    Purulha. 

Coffee  grows  best  in  the  region  of  the  volcanoes  and  in 
\lta  Verapaz,  with  over  2,000  millimeters  of  rainfall  per  year, 
18°  to  26°  C,  average  temperature,  and  between  200  and  1,600 
meters  in  height  above  the  sea  level. 

The  report  of  this  product,  which  is  nearly  the  only  one 
going  extensively  abroad,  has  been,  since  1873,  as  follows: 


1 

PoUDtJj?,        IT 

Value  in 

a 

Pounds. 

Price  per  100 

Value  in 

1  MM. 

& 

Ibs.  in  pesos. 

pesos. 

187.". 

15,056.000 

1884 

37,130,600 

4.415.6T.7 

1874 

16,15s, 

1885 

52,081,800 

5,203,181 

1875 

16,357. 

1888 

52,975,100 

ii 

5,827,264 

1876 

20,740,000 

1SS7 

47,869,100 

17 

8,137,478 

1877 

. 

L888 

86,639,800 

78 

6,595,1  8  1 

1878 

20,935,N>0 

l-'S'.l 

56^288,900 

23 

12,704,948 

1S79 

25,201,600 

1890 

60,850,900 

25 

12,714,981 

1880 

28,976  'Jim 

l^'.'l 

52,449,500 

25 

13,112,379 

1881    2i:.nr.7.-JiHp 

4,0^348 

IX'J 

4'.'  li'.l.'ttO            28 

13,766,983 

11,227,100 

8,71 

[883 

59,840.:','Ki           31 

18,550,515 

40,406,000            12 

4,84- 

The  best  prices  are  obtained  for  coffees  produced  in  high 
regions. 

The  next  most  important  agricultural  product  is  the 
banana.  In  1894  there  were  9.045  hectares  planted  with 
bananas,  which  produced  2,106,908  bunches. 


45 


Table  of  banana  production  for  ten  years,  ending  1893: 


Year. 

Production 
in  bunches. 

Value  in 
pesos. 

Year. 

Production 
in  bunchrs. 

Value  in 
}•<•-  ig. 

1883 

29,099 

11.S79 

1889 

11  0.222 

44,088 

1884 

81,645 

1880 

288,077 

118,280 

1885 

60,416 

30.208 

1891 

'.181,998 

892,799 

1886 

55,322 

27,661 

!     1892 

I':'!),  854 

'.741 

1887 

130,427 

65,213 

:  893 

•_'i;i,85i 

178,118 

1888 

113,408 

66,704 

The  principal  banana  production  is  in  Santa  Rosa  (816,- 
958  bunches),  Alta  Verapaz  (248,466  bunches),  Izabal  (199,- 
096  bunches),  Solola  (167,725  bunches),  Suchitepequez  (162,- 
186  bunches),  Retalhuleu  (92,330  bunches),  Escuintla  (81,630 
bunches),  San  Marcos  (76,690  bunches),  Ouezaltenango  (74,- 
572  bunches),  Amatitlan  (72,962  bunches). 

The  production  of  the  sugar-mills  in  1894  was  6,555,250 
pounds  of  sugar,  10,881,000  cakes  of  panela,  923,900  pounds 
of  molasses  called  "miel,"  and  3,537,100  pounds  of  the  so- 
called  "mascabado." 

The  principal  sugar  regions  are: 


Ainatitliui 8,903  Hectares  of  cane. 

Eacuintla 6.356 

Ba.ju  Verapaz l,97;t 

Quiche 1,364 

Quezaltenaugo 1 ,222 

San  Marcos I,fi54 

Huebuetenango. . .      98S 


Suchitepoquez 729  Hectares  of  cane. 

S..1..1.-1 G83 

Alti  Verapaz C78 

Chimaltenango 69 

Suut  i  Rosa 42X        '' 

Retalhuleu 424        " 


Nearly  all  of  the  sugar  is  consumed  in  Guatemala, 
export  of  this  product  since  1879  nas  been  as  follows : 


The 


Year. 

Pounds. 

Year. 

Pounds. 

Year. 

Pounds. 

1879     

134  000 

1  8*4 

379">GJO 

1889            

1,002  400 

1880  

410  800 

1  v-C, 

.  .    •  (i  342  900 

189J  

1,052400 

1881  

15,600 

1886  

7  614.300 

Ih91  

1882 

1  ",74  7iK) 

1887 

1892  

1883  

.  '     4,462,70.) 

l.sSS  

.      4411,800 

1893  

1,057,200 

As  to  Indian  corn  there  were  produced  of  it  in  1894,  161,- 
412,475  pounds.  The  following  varieties  are  cultivated :  Maiz 
bianco,  Maiz  rojo,  Maiz  salpor,  Maiz  negro,  Maiz  Colorado, 


46 


Mai/  amarillo,  Maiz  pinto  and  a  fe\v  others.  Indian  corn  is 
principally  raised  in  Totonicapan  (34,124  hectares),  Chimalte- 
nango  (11,843),  Guatemala  (9,986),  Alta  Verapaz  (6,435), 
Solola  (6,097),  Quezaltenango  (5,949),  Santa  Rosa  (5,290), 
Sacatepequez  (4,054),  Jalapa  (3,931),  Zacapa  (3,885),  San 
Marcos  (3,603),  Huehuetenango  (3,543),  and  Amatitlan 

(3-035). 

A  very  important  product  for  the  alimentation  of  the 
people  is  the  bean.  There  are  also  of  this  plant  a  number  of 
varieties,  such  as  Frijol  bianco,  Frijol  negro,  Frijol  cafe, 
Frijol  amarillo,  Frijol  Colorado,  Frijol  pinto,  Frijol  piloy,  Frijcl 
aplomado,  Frijol  pilique,  Frijol  istapacal,  Frijol  espumita,  etc. 

In  1894  there  were  produced  about  6,536,200  pounds  of 
beans.  The  principal  bean  producing  Departments  are  Guate- 
mala (1,006  hectares),  Chimaltenango  (984),  Solola  (931), 
Amatitlan  (573),  Chiquimula  (375),  Alta  Verapaz  (366),  Za- 
capa (359),  Sacatepequez  (354),  Santa  Rosa  (265),  Jalapa  (260), 
Izabal  (257). 

Tobacco  is  mostly  produced  in  Chiquimula  (9,983,700 
plants),  Zacapa  (2,214,000),  Jalapa  (1,585,000),  Santa  Rosa 
(792,000),  Jutiapa  (570,000),  Quiche  (538,000),  Peten  (244,- 
ooo). 

The  total  crop  in  1894  was  1,474,068  pounds,  and  all  this 
tobacco  was  consumed  in  the  country  itself.  In  1896  only 
408  pesos  worth  of  tobacco  was  exported. 

The  production  of  cacao  is  still  very  limited.  There  were 
in  1894  1,672,940  cacao  trees,  which  gave  417,173  pounds  of 
beans.  The  principal  cacao  producing  Departments  are: 
Escuintla  (607,876  trees),  Suchitepequez  (587,668),  Solola 
(204,301),  Retalhuleu  (122,898).  The  export  of  cacao  in  1896 
amounted  to  a  valuation  of  only  8,66 1  pesos. 

Wheat  is  mostly  cultivated  in  Quezaltenango  (3,808 
hectares),  Suchitepequez  (2,151),  Chimaltenango  (2,132), 
Totonicapan  (1,420),  San  Marcos  (943),  Jalapa  (250),  and 
Huehuetenango  (137).  The  total  area  is  10,965  hectares. 

Of  barley  only  397  hectares  were  cultivated,  of  which  119 
were  in  Chimaltenango,  86  in  Sacatepequez,  78  in  Guatemala, 
36  in  Quezaltenango,  33  in  Solola,  and  31  in  Amatitlan. 

Oafs  were   mostly  planted   in  Quezaltenango  (192   hec- 

47 


tares),  San  Marcos  (115),  and  Totonicapan  (in).  The  total 
area  was  432  hectares. 

Potatoes  were  cultivated  in  Totonicapan  (530  hectares). 
San  Marcos  (235),  Ouezaltenango  (166),  Solola  (54),  Huehue- 
tenango  (48),  Sacatepequez  (40),  etc.  The  total  area  devoted 
to  this  crop  was  1,136  hectares. 

The  production  of  other  products,  like  rice,  yucca  (Mani- 
hot},  name,  sweet  potatoes,  indigo  and  garden  plants,  including 
vegetables,  is  very  limited.  Also,  fruit  trees  are  not  very 
abundant,  with  exception  of  oranges,  mango,  jocote,  aguacate, 
guayabo,  and  some  others. 

Passing  to  the  live-stock,  there  are  about  163,381  horses 
and  mules,  497,130  cattle  and  490,176  sheep  and  goats  distrib- 
uted all  over  the  country,  and  they  are  mostly  found  in  regions 
of  savannas  or  in  potreros,  of  which  there  are  about  316,071 
hectares,  namely  50,331  in  the  Department  of  Guatemala;  39,- 
850  in  Santa  Rosa;  38,407  in  Huehuetenango;  29,898  in  Es- 
cuintla;  24,248  in  Alta  Verapaz;  22,564  in  Zacapa;  13,259  in 
Baja  Verapaz;  12,515  in  Amatitlan;  12,402  in  Chiquimula;  13,- 
183  in  Solola;  11,126  in  Jutiapa;  10,263  in  Suchitepequez;  7,810 
in  Sacatepequez;  6,704  in  San  Marcos;  6,645  m  JalaPa5  5^43  in 
Quezaltenango;  5,404  in  Quiche;  4,192  in  Retalhuleu,  etc. 
In  1896  cowhides  valued  at  3,360  pesos  were  exported  to  the 
United  States. 

The  salaries  and  wages  paid  in  agriculture  are  as  follows: 

Foremen 25  to  ICO  paper  pesos  per  month. 

Laborers 20  to  75  centaros  paper  money  per  day. 

Peons 50  ceutavos  to  1  pesos  paper  money  j.er  day. 

Coachmen 20  to  60  peso  paper  money  per  month. 

Cooks 3C  to  100  pesos  paper  money  per  month. 


VII. 


MEANS   OF   COMMUNICATION. 


A  very  important  factor  in  the  economic  development  of 
a  country  is  its  means  of  communication.  Guatemala  is  also 
here  deficient. 

The  principal  roads  are  called  "caminos  carretcros,"  more 
or  less  fitted  for  transportation  by  ox  or  mule  carts.  Such  roads 
exist  between  Guatemala  and  Ouezaltenango,  between  Quezal- 
tenango  and  San  Marcos,  between  Quezaltenango  and  Retal- 
huleu,  between  El  Rodeo  and  Ocos,  between  El  Rodeo  and  Ca- 
ballo  bianco,  between  Retalhuleu  and  Mazatenango,  between 
Escuintla  and  Santa  Lucia,  between  Guatemala  and  San  An- 
tonio, between  Guatemala  and  Antigua,  between  Antigua  and 
Escuintla,  between  Guatemala  and  Cuajiniquilapa,  between 
Cuajiniquilapa  and  Mataquescuintla,  between  Coban  and  Pan- 
zos,  between  Chiquimula  and  Zacapa,  between  Zacapa  and 
Gualan,  between  Guatemala  and  Jalapa,  ajid  between  Guate- 
mala and  San  Jose. 

The  only  stage  service  in  the  country  is  between  Guate- 
mala and  Quezaltenango  and  between  Guatemala  and  An- 
tigua. 

During  the  rainy  season  the  roads  are  in  a  wretched  con- 
dition, and  during  the  dry  season  little  is  done  to  them,  not- 
withstanding that  most  of  the  exported  and  imported  goods 
have  to  be  moved  on  these  roads. 

49 


The  following  table  gives  the  distances  between  the  prin- 
cipal points  in  Guatemala : 


Guatemala  to 

Guatemala  to 

Antigua  

Chimaltenango  

32 

Amatitlan  

23 

42 

Cuajiiiiquilapa       

H       -                       Flores                      

107 

Solol£     

3D                            Izabal 

7" 

42 

.45 

25           ' 

29           ' 

65           ' 

There  are  a  number  of  railroads  built  for  the  exportation 
of  coffee  and  the  importation  of  foreign  goods,  with  a  gauge  of 
only  three  feet  (915  mm.).  Of  these  the  most  important  is 
the  Central  or  Southern  Railroad,  74.5  miles  long,  between  the 
port  of  San  Jose  (Pacific  Ocean)  and  the  capital  of  Guatemala. 
It  belongs  to  an  American  company.  From  this  line  a  branch 
runs  from  Obero  6  Naranja,  thirteen  miles  from  San  Jose,  to 
the  port  of  Iztapa,  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  of  the  same 
name.  Another  branch  passes  from  Santa  Maria  (near  Es- 
cuintla),  twenty-eight  miles  from  San  Jose,  to  Santa  Lucia 
and  Patulul,  traversing  an  important  coffee  and  sugar  country. 

The  next  most  important  railroad  is  called  "Ferrocarril 
Occidental,"  and  connects  the.  port  of  Champerico  (Pacific 
Ocean)  with  San  Felipe.  It  is  forty-one  miles  long,  and  was 
built  by  capitalists  domiciled  in  the  country. 

Perhaps  not  less  important  is  the  so-called  "Ferrocarril 
del  Norte,"  from  Puerto  Barrios  (Atlantic  Ocean)  to  the 
Rancho  de  San  Augustin.  It  is  140  miles  long,  and  was  built 
by  the  national  government  with  the  intention  of  bringing  it 
seventy-five  miles  farther,  to  the  capital  of  Guatemala.  It 
passes  along  the  valley  of  the  Motagua  River,  and  opens  a 
very  rich  zone  for  coffee  and  sugar  production. 

Still  another  railroad  has  been  built  along  the  Polochic 
River,  between  Panzos  and  Tucuru,  in  order  to  bring  coffee 
and  other  products  from  the  Departments  of  Yerapaz  down 
to  the  port  of  Livingston.  Finally,  in  course  of  construction 
is  a  railroad  from  the  port  of  Ocos  (Pacific  Ocean)  inland  in 


the  direction  of  San  Marcos,  also  built  with  the  purpose  of  fa- 
cilitating the  transportation  of  coffee  and  of  promoting  in- 
.creased  production. 

Since  these  railroads  were  opened,  transportation  by  ox 
or  mule  carts,  or  by  packing  on  the  backs  of  mules  or  Indians, 
has  diminished  considerably,  although  the  cart  roads  are  still 
full  of  Indians  and  beasts  of  burden,  carrying  wood,  iron,  min- 
erals, coffee,  sugar,  corn,  beans,  fruits,  vegetables,  earthen- 
ware, charcoal,  hay.  etc..  to  market. 

In  another  place  the  ports  of  San  Jose,  Champerico  and 
Ocos,  and  the  river  port  of  Iztapa,  all  on  the  Pacific  coast,  have 
been  mentioned,  as  well  as  the  ports  of  Livingston,  Puerto 
Barrios  and  Santo  Tomas,  on  the  gulf  of  Honduras;  the  port 
of  Izabal.  on  Lake  Izabal;  and  the  river  ports  of  Gualan  on 
the  Motagua,  and  Panzos  on  the  Polochic  Rivers,  tributaries 
to  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  These  are  important  factors  of  Guate- 
malan trade. 

In  1893  the  maritime  movement  of  Guatemala,  as  to  pack- 
ages and  weight, -was  as  follows: 


Port  of  San  Joso,     398,817  pieces,  or  78,828,000  pound* 
•'      Chiunperico  218,838        "         24,374,500      " 
"      Ocos,  '  31,467        "  4,114,300      " 

"      Livingston,    103,080        "  9,101,000      " 

Total 7.Y2,2n_>  116,418,000 


In  1896  there  were  748,266  pieces,  or  65,687,660  pounds. 

There  entered  and  cleared  in  1893  the  following  shipping: 
378  vessels  carrying  the  American  flag;  55  carrying  the  Ger- 
man; 47  carrying  the  English;  20  carrying  the  Norwegian. 

The  steamship  lines  which  regularly  visit  the  Pacific  ports, 
of  which  each  one  has  an  iron  pier,  are  the  Pacific  Mail,  an 
American  line  plying  between  Panama  and  San  Francisco, 
and  the  Kosmos  and  Kirsten  lines,  both  German.  These  three 
lines  receive  a  subvention  from  the  Government.. 

The  steamers  of  the  Pacific  Mail  have  the  following  itin- 
erary : 

The  steamer  which  sails  from  Panama  on  the  gth  of  each 
month  arrives  at  San  Jose  on  the  I5th,  at  Champerico  on  the 
i6th,  at  Ocos  on  the  I7th. 

51 


The  steamer  which  sails  from  Panama  on  the  igth  arrives 
at  San  Jose  on  the  28th,  and  at  Champerico  on  the  29th. 

The  steamer  which  sails  from  Panama  on  the  28th  or  29th 
arrives  at  San  Jose  on  the  4th  or  5th,  and  at  Champerico  on  the 
5th  or  6th. 

The  coast  steamer  which  sails  from  Panama  on  the  loth 
of  each  month  arrives  at  San  Jose  on  the  2oth,  at  Champerico 
on  the  2 1  st. 

The  coast  steamer  which  sails  from  Panama  on  the  3Oth 
arrives  at  San  Jose  on  the  I2th,  at  Champerico  on  the  I3th, 
and  at  Ocos  on  the  I4th. 

The  same  steamers  sail  from  San  Francisco  (California) 
on  the  8th,  i8th  and  29th. 

The  first  arrives  at  Ocos  on  the  igth,  at  Champerico  on 
the  2ist,  and  at  San  Jose  on  the  24th. 

The  second  arrives  at  Champerico  on  the  2d,  and  at  San 
Jose  on  the  5th. 

The  third  arrives  at  Champerico  on  the  loth,  and  at  San 
Jose  on  the  I5th. 

The  Kosmos  and  Kirsten  lines  take  about  fifty  days  in 
coming  from  Hamburg  via  the  Strait  of  Magellan,  but  they 
have  no  fixed  itinerary.  In  the  same  condition  are  the  steam- 
ers which  visit  Puerto  Barrios,  Santo  Tomas  and  Livingston. 

These  ports  on  the  Atlantic  coast  are  visited  by  a  number 
of  steamers  which  go  to  New  Orleans,  New  York  and  Europe 
from  Belize,  Livingston  and  Puerto  Barrios  and  the  north 
coast  of  Honduras.  A  number  of  sailing  vessels,  from  eight 
to  twelve,  are  running  on  the  same  routes,  but  without  fixed 
itineraries. 

As  to  other  means  of  communication,  Guatemala  is  also 
connected  by  cables  and  telegraphs  with  the  civilized  world. 
In  1893  there  were  3,886  km.  (2,430  miles)  of  telegraph  lines, 
with  139  offices,  whjch  together  dispatched  702,433  telegrams. 
The  postal  service  maintained  176  offices,  which  distributed 
4,379,654  letters  and  sent  out  5,150,926. 


VIII. 


FINANCE,   COMMERCE  AND   INDUSTRY. 


The  commercial  world  of  Guatemala  is  seriously  de- 
pressed by  existing  economic  and  financial  as  well  as  political 
disturbances.  Besides  the  considerable  fall  in  the  value  of 
silver,  the  "curso  forzoso"  of  the  paper  money,  the  deficiency 
in  the  last  coffee  crop,  and  the  low  price  paid  for  it,  there 
were  also  the  last  revolution  with  its  ruinous  consequences, 
the  recent  Central  American  Exposition  with  special  allow- 
ances for  free  importation,  and  an  unreasonable  financial 
policy  of  the  late  President  which  heavily  embarrassed  the 
country  and  impaired  the  welfare  of  the  nation,  to  make  the 
situation  appalling. 

Large  coffee  and  sugar  planters  have  exhausted  their 
credit  abroad  and  many  merchants  have  been  obliged  to  sus- 
pend payment.  There  is  besides  superabundance  in  many 
imported  products,  with  the  exception  of  articles  of  daily  and 
general  use,  such  as  flour  and  nutrient  farm  produce,  tobacco, 
etc.  Drafts  for  foreign  exchange  have  a  very  high  premium, 
and  many  merchants  ceased  long  ago  to  send  drafts  to  Europe 
or  to  the  United  States,  waiting  for  better  times. 

Taking  up  the  finances  and  revenues  of  Guatemala,  the 
treasury  derives  its  income  from  the  following  sources:  taxes 
on  liquors  and  duties  on  imports  and  exports,  stamped  paper 
and  revenue  stamps,  taxes  on  real  estate  and  on  roads,  charges 
for  exemption  from  military  service,  taxes  on  live  stock,  flour, 

53 


salt,  inheritances,  sales  and  donations  of  immovable  property, 
fines  and  confiscations,  sale  of  vacant  lands,  revenues  from 
pawn  shops  and  from  post  and  telegraph  service. 

The  headquarters  of  the  custom-house  service  received  in 
1896 

4,498,838.C4  pesos  import  duties  from  Guatemala  City. 


1,783,885  25 

19,537  20 

566,628  18 

112,662.76 

45,070  43 


Retalhuleu. 

Cliamperico. 

LiTingston. 

Ocos. 

Overland  Places. 


Total 7,026,621  81  peios. 


There  are  also  some  export  duties,  as  on  coffee,  so  that 
the  total  amount  of  customs  receipts  in  1896  was  8,984,417.51 
pesos. 

In  1896,  beiides  the  custom  dues  of  8,984,417.51  pe?oo 

There  were  dues  on  liquor  and  victuallers'  licenses  to  the  amount  of  3,788,245.37     " 

Various  taxes,  to  the  amount  of 2,069,017  75      " 

Telegraph  service,  to  the  amount  of '211,875.49      " 

Postal  Mi-rice,  to  the  amount  of 97,18532      " 


Total 15,150.741 .44  pesos. 

The  expenditure  was  calculated  at  17,437,452.93  pesos. 
The  external  debt  in  the  same  year  was: 

4  per  cent,  external  consolidated £1,549,940 

Muller&  Thomson's  loan 459,875 

Total   £2,OC9,815 

The  internal  debt  was  as  follows: 


Treasury  notes  in  circulation  35,736.00  pesos. 

Bonds  and  fractions  of  loan 1,466,339.88 

Exhibition  bonds 904,000.00 

Guatemala  Bank 300,000.00 

Corporations  and  Companies 364,553.45 

Deposits 112,964.14 

Floating  debt 541,452.5  > 

Bills  payable 1, 121,964.09 

Salaries  and  expenses 2,472,945  55 


Total 7,319,955.66  pesos. 

There  were  also  national  assets  to  the  amount  of  7,866,- 
737.07  pesos. 

The  value  of  the  entire  property  of  Guatemala  was  esti- 
mated not  to  be  over  11,853,085  pesos. 

54 


Against  this  crushing  line  of  figures  the  following  list  is 
given  of  the  importations  and  exportations  in  pesos  since  1851, 
which  has  a  more  favorable  aspect: 


Year. 

Importation. 

Exportation. 

| 

1851 

1,4'  3,884 

1,404,000 

1852 

1,581,207 

.  MII 

1853 

..43 

.'.'.'M.i  '47 

1854 

873,831 

2,o»3,:;oo 

1866 

826,480 

;8»1 

1856 

1,206,210 

1,701 

1857 

1,165,816 

1,906 

1858 

1,136, 

24M 

18.r-9 

1,228,770 

I,7H 

I860 

1,520,050 

2,021 

1861 

1,495,191 

1,106,583 

1862 

1,093,040 

1,968,161 

1863 

74--.,042 

1,498,311 

1864 

1,414,904 

1,.  "62,916 

1865 

1,649,712 

1866 

1,690,116 

1,680,341 

1867 

1,674,687 

1,919,650 

1868 

1,664,843 

2,188,197 

1S69 

1,753,102 

2,291,052 

1870 

l,:'-74,897 

2,014,782 

1871 

1>403,503 

2,667,716 

1872                    '.214 

Importation. 

Exportation. 

1,19',  830 

2,304,265 

IVTI             3,054,004 

2,HO",621 

187o                 -  ..738 

3.V17.M44 

isTii          2.7i' 

3,767,471 

1S77            3,133,871 

3,77:5,188 

1878     !        3,238,437 

3,918,912 

1879             11,920,464 

4,o05,6:« 

1880            3,035,536 

4  4_ 

18»1            3,664,674 

4.084,348 

1882    ;       2.6V..'.m2 

3,719,209 

1883           2,03' 

5,718,341 

1884 

3,829,650 

4,9:57,941 

1885 

3,103,277 

6  069,645 

1886 

3,537,399 

6,719,502 

1887             4,241,407 

9,039.391 

1888 

6,460,568 

<<,977 

1880 

7,586,661 

13,247,6^9 

1890            7,639,833 

14,401,534 

1>>91     '        7,816,730 

14,17 

1892            6,010,233 

14,869,324 

1893 

6,383,834 

20,327,077 

The  value  of  the  imports  is  that  estimated  by  the  manu- 
facturers, and  the  value  of  the  exports  is  calculated  at  the 
ports,  and  includes  transportation  to  them. 

Continuing  the  information  concerning  the  foreign  com- 
merce of  Guatemala,  these  tables  are  given: 

Exportations  to  the  United  States  of  America  in  1896  were 
as  follows : 


Coffee, 
Bananas, 
Minerals, 
Corozo, 
CowliMes. 
India  ruMier, 
Lumber. 
Coined  silver, 


11.962,467  pounds. 

valued  at    G:1, :'•'>!  i  • 

40 
250  pesos. 

J      •• 
'4  25,025 

8)      •• 
200      " 


Deer  skins,      valued  at 

Living  plants,        " 
Zarzaparilla,          " 
Black  beans,         " 
Tobacco, 
Sundri-'.-. 
Hardware, 


1,219  peooB. 
30 
110 
4 

408 
910 


At  the  same  time  there  were  exported  to  Germany,  coffee 
amounting  to  46,268,078  pounds;  cowhides  valued  at  28,682 
pesos;  Indian  rubber  valued  at  8,822  pesos;  deer  skins  valued 
at  6,896  pesos;  sundries  valued  at  1,310  pesos. 

To  England:  Coffee  amounting  to  10,332,847  pounds; 
Indian  rubber  valued  at  15,488  pesos;  sundries  valued  at  435 
pesos. 


55 


To  France:  Coffee,  amounting  to  1,585,563  pounds; 
coined  silver  valued  at  22,000  pesos. 

Other  products  for  export  are  cinchona  bark,  of  which, 
in  1893,  there  was  sold  a  valuation  of  3,740  pesos,  and 
the  rubber,  called  "hule"  or  "cauchu,"  of  which,  in  1893,  a  valu- 
ation of  38,898  pesos  was  sent  abroad. 

The  production  of  rubber  since  1860  has  been  as  follows  : 


Year. 

No.  pounds.            Year.          No.   pounds. 

Year. 

1860 

221,600                 IS7.J 

390,200 

1  886 

1861 

292,600                 1874 

42,800 

1887 

1862 

139,900 

1879 

1,800 

1888 

1863 

278,600 

1880 

25,900 

1889 

1864 

303,900 

1881 

188,100 

]890 

1870 

278,500 

1882 

345,900 

1891 

1871 

214,000 

1883 

345,400 

1SD3 

1872 

327,100 

1885 

220,700 

No.  pounds. 


282,400 
;>2;j,400 
221.100 
169.700 
143,000 
142,200 
317,300 


Besides  rubber,  only  the  following  forest  products,  mahog- 
any, cedarwood,  mora,  campeche,  brazilwood  and  some  zarza- 
parilla  and  corozo  (oilseeds)  are  exported. 

The  United  States  of  America  exported  to  Guatemala  in 
the  same  year: 


Articles. 

Pesos 

Articles. 

Pesos. 

Oils     
Spirits  

31,976.40 
69  135  60 

Carved  wooil.         

24,12060 
':,1'2  18040 

Barbed  wire  
Cotton  yarns   .   .  .         

28,9tiO.OO 
364,219  35 

Machinery  

61,120.60 

Sundry  articles  .... 

7*5,  1U6  45 

349,610.65 

Bicycles  

32,146  90 

29,460.40 

Shoe  material  
Cinnamon  and  spices  

8,916.75 
19,126  30 

Lard  
Manufactures  of  leather  and 

21,210.60 

Carts  

14,138  60 

fur  "  

30,110.45 

Carriages  

24,872.40 

61,034.10 

Barley  

19,196  65 

25,106.70 

Beer     

37  27''  SO 

56,114.10 

Preserves  

82,430.60 
15  46°  40 

Petroleum  
Silk 

47,102.40 
68  106  40 

31*881  10 

i  Hats 

14,260  20 

92  184  50 

18,140.KO 

58  110  60 

19,020.40 

45,960  00 

Wheat  

41,960.20 

Flour.  
Iron  ware  

476,908.40 
139,140.80 

"1  S60  40 

Tea  
Wines  and  liquors  

19,105.20 
46,120.80 

Wool    

lg'916'20 

3,172,896  05 

56 


The  imports  from  France  amounted  in  the  same  year  to 
1,196,849.40  pesos,  as  follows: 


Spirits,  bran.ly,  <-tc 

i  yarns,  etc.) ]•_•.-, 

Sundry  articles 7 

i'n-si'rves. 

iMil  chin.-iwat" ]4, 

( "opper  wares 'J3,63~>.40 

Drugs  and  mediciin- 3.  . 

Jewelry 31. 

Wool  (yarns,  i-lotli,  clothing,  etc.; '2 Hi. 

Linen 14.210..10 

Machinery i?. 

.Manufactures  of  leatlier 1. 

Stationery f>>;,lol.i;'i 

Pianos,  organs,  etc 2 1 ,116  40 

Silks  (yarns,  cloth,  ribbons,  etc.)   851,746. 'Jo 

Hats •_>  i,310  60 

Wine  and  liquors ]  12, 15)0,20 


The  imports  from 


142',738!55     ' 
67,017.35     ' 
60  078  90     ' 

Belgium  

46,0- 
36,575  35     ' 
85,072.  40 
21,249  60 
18,023.60 
.    ]::,'.'-.:;.  9."> 
.      y.  •_".'-,  1  , 

China  

Switzerland   
Central  America  ..   . 
The  Netherlands  

The  imports  from  the  United  Kingdom  were  valued  at 
2,164,490.60  pesos,  as  follows: 


Cotton  yarns  and  cloth 1,286.840.50  pesos. 

Sundry  artielrs 41,410.50 

Drugs  anil  inedirini-s   17.lS2.4o 

Iron  wares  5)8,134. TO 

Wool. -n  yarns  ami  clothing 181,11270 

Linen  (stocking,  yarns,  cloth,  etc.1 18,416.30 

Tobacco  and  ciirars 12,126  CO 

Hoofing  sh,-.  ts  86,14').50 

Machin.-ry 26,14080 

Kailways,  trl.  ^r:i]>hs,  d.rtric  lights,  machinery    ...  172,38060 

Leathers  mid  furs 16,8(!6.40 

Sa<^ks  or  bags  18,145  30 

Silks,  yarns,  clnthin  .-.  etc   ::4. 105.70 


The  imports  from  Germany  to  Guatemala  amounted  to 
2,012,269.40  pesos,  as  follows: 


Spirits  16,954.20  1-es 

Barbed  wire 18,976.40      ' 

Cotton  yarns,  etc 416,845.10     " 

Sundry  articles 73,401.65     " 

Beer 51,284.80      " 

Prenerres 48,208.10      " 

Glassware,  chinaware  58,136.80      " 

Coals 27,146.10      " 

Drujts  and  medicines  34,106.50 

Stearine 23,902.10      " 

Matches 45,180.60      " 

Ironware  116,908.40      •' 

Iron  in  bars 22,214.10 

Jewelry 23,190.40 

Wool  (yarns,  cloth,  clothing) 186,810.46 

Linen 18,460.80 

Roofing  sheets 51,230.20 

Timber  and  roofing  materials 31,180.40 

Materials  for  railways,  telegraphs 163,960.40 

Furniture 24,295.20 

Manufactures  of  leathers  and  furs 34,215.6(1 

Other  articles 152,101.70 

Stationery 59,107.30 

Pianos 15,120.50 

Sacks 25,194.50 

Silk  (yarns,  etc.) 32,104  40 

Hats 23,910.60 

Roofs 18,945.20 

Wines  and  liquors  23,160.80 


The  history  of  commerce  in  Guatemala  is  very  simple. 

During  the  first  years  of  the  present  century,  toward  the 
end  of  the  Spanish  domination,  after  many  restrictions  to  trade 
had  been  removed  and  Central  America  had  obtained  leave  to 
traffic  direct  with  Mexico  and  other  Spanish-American  colo- 
nies, there  were  only  thirty  or  thirty-five  mercantile  houses 
throughout  Central  America.  Merchandise  to  the  value  of 
$1,000,000  was  yearly  imported  from  Spain  through  the  Bay 
of  Honduras.  The  returns  were  chiefly  indigo,  coin  and  bul- 
lion. There  was  some  trade  also  with  Peru  and  Cuba,  and  at 
the  same  time  smuggling  was  carried  on  quite  freely  and 
largely  through  Belize  and  Curasao  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  and 
by. foreign  whalers  on  the  Pacific  coast. 

After  the  separation  from  Spain  there  was,  as  Herbert 
Howe  Bancroft  says,  little  commerce  for  many  years,  until  the 
construction  of  the  railway  across  the  Isthmus  and  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  line  of  steamers  making  periodical  visits  to  the 
several  Central  American  ports  on  the  Pacific  coast  afforded 
facilities  for  the  development  of  both  agriculture  and  foreign 
trade.  Up  to  that  time  the  several  republics  had  established 
regular  fairs,  and  subsequently  they  added  to  their  number. 
These  were  attended  by  persons  wishing  to  purchase  national 

58 


or  foreign  products  and  manufactures.  In  Guatemala  annual 
fairs  were  held  in  Ksquipulas.  .where  large  quantities  of  mer- 
chandise were  sold:  in  Rabinal.  in  Yerapaz,  of  dry  goods;  in 
Mazatenango,  of  dry  goods,  cacao,  cattle,  etc.;  in  San  Pedro 
Ayampue.  in  Solola,  of  dry  goods,  fruit  and  stock;  in  Quezalte- 
nango  and  Chimaltenango,  of  woolen  manufactures;  also  in 
the  capital  of  Guatemala,  in  Salcaja.  Santa  Cruz  del  Quiche, 
Jalapa,  Santa  Rosa  and  San  Pedro  Pinula.  In  regard  to  the 
development  of  the  commerce  of  Guatemala  since  1851.  we 
refer  to  the  above  copied  lists  of  importations  and  exporta- 
tions  from  1851  to  1893.  In  order  to  understand  the  slow 
development  of  Guatemala,  it  should  be  mentioned  that  until 
the  railroads  were  built  the  country  was,  to  all  intents  and 
purposes,  insular,  and  reached  only  by  sea.  The  business  cen- 
ters, being  all  in  the  interior,  were  accessible  only  by  difficult 
roads  and  horse  paths.  Her  people  lived  mainly  by  them- 
selves, and  cared  little  for  the  outside  world,  and  the  outside 
world  cared  little  for  them. 

This  situation  was  much  changed  with  the  production  of 
coffee  as  an  article  of  export,  and  it  can  be  said  that  all  mod- 
ern improvements  and  the  present  civilization  are  mostly  due 
to  coffee.  With  the  accumulation  of  more  wealth  the  standard 
of  life  was  raised,  and  commerce  rapidly  increased. 


In  1-77  the  first  liauk,  the  liam-o  Internacional,  was  established  with  a. 

capital  of 1,400.000  peso* 

And  after  that  the  Banco  Colombiano  with  a  capital  of 1,684,000 

The  BUMO  cte  Occidents  with  a  capital  of 1,800,000 

The  Banco  de  Guatemala  with  a  capital  of 1,500,000 

The  lUnco  Agricola  Ilipotecarin  with  a  capital  of 4,000,000 

And  the  Banco  Americano  w.th  a  capital  of 600,000 


Credit  is  still  dear  in  Guatemala.  10  to  12  per  cent,  inter- 
est being  demanded;  and  it  is  generally  alleged  that  the  banks 
are  not  liberal  in  extending  credits.  Business  is  usually  done 
on  long  credits.  The  merchants  in  the  larger  cities,  with  a 
capital  of  from  20,000  to  100,000  pesos,  get  usually  a  six,  nine 
and  twelve  months'  credit  from  European  exporters,  while  the 
merchants  of  the  interior,  with  a  capital  of  from  4,000  to  12,- 
ooo  pesos,  and  who  generally  handle  the  cheaper  articles  of  all 
kinds,  in  accordance  with  the  wealth  of  their  customers,  chiefly 

59 


Indian  agriculturists  and  laborers,  get  from  the  wholesale 
dealers  in  the  larger  cities  a  six  to  nine  months'  credit,  paying 
an  interest  of  from  7  to  10  per  cent.  As  may  be  inferred, 
most  of  the  merchants  deal  in  general  merchandise,  and  the 
articles  chiefly  purchased  are  canned  goods,  cheaper  grades  of 
clothing  and  dress  goods,  dry  goods,  hardware,  crockery, 
glassware,  farming  implements,  household  and  decorative  fur- 
niture, kitchen  utensils-  and  household  articles,  boots  and 
shoes,  hats,  carpets,  stationery,  flour,  butter,  lard,  etc.,  machin- 
ery for  coffee  cleaning,  sugar  making,  mining,  sawmills;  also 
pumps,  etc. 

The  larger  houses  are  generally  good  and  reliable.  Many 
business  houses  are  also  proprietors  of  coffee  plantations,  and 
it  happens  that  most  of  the  imported  merchandise  is  paid  for 
with  it.  The  commerce  in  coffee  is  mostly  in  the  hands  of 
Germans  or  German-Americans,  who  have  also  invested  a  great 
deal  of  their  capital  in  coffee  and  sugar  plantations.  Besides 
German  and  American  houses  there  are  a  number  of  Spanish, 
Italian,  French  and  native  houses  all  through  the  country. 

Industries.  The  industries  of  Guatemala  are  still  in  their 
infancy.  The  principal  ones  are  sugar  factories,  distilleries 
and  establishments  for  cleaning  and  preparing  coffee;  then 
follow  the  industries  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  Indians, 
such  as  the  weaving  of  maata  (cotten  cloth),  of  jerga  (a  coarse 
woolen  stuff),  cashmere,  silk  and  cotton  scarfs,  huipiles,  hats, 
ropes  and  cordage,  pottery,  baskets,  artificial  flowers,  wax 
fruits,  cigars,  shoes,  furniture,  musical  instruments,  etc. 

There  is  probably  a  profitable  field  for  the  establishment 
of  all  kinds  of  factories,  which  undoubtedly  would  be  encour- 
aged by  the  government.  In  order  to  get  a  concession  or 
privilege  for  any  enterprise,  applications  must  be  made  to  the 
government,  and  a  contract  to  that  effect  signed  by  the  appli- 
cant and  the  Minister  of  Fomento.  In  certain  cases  the  ap- 
proval of  the  President  of  the  Republic  is  sufficient  for  their 
validity,  while  some  contracts,  like  railroad  concessions,  must 
be  submitted  for  the  sanction  of  the  legislative  assembly. 


60 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH  AND  POLITICAL   ORGANIZATION. 


Spain  governed  Central  America  by  the  Audiencia  Real 
for  about  three  centuries.  There  were  several  attempts  at  re- 
sistance and  formal  protests  against  her  tyranny  as  early  as 
1811,  but  it  was  not  until  1821  that  the  representative  of  Spain, 
Gavino  Gainza,  surrendered  his  authority,  when,  on  the  I5th  of 
September,  independence  was  proclaimed.  Soon  after  Mexico 
made  an  attempt  to  annex  Central  America  to  the  ephemeral 
empire  of  Iturbide,  but  that  domination  was  never  acccepted. 
After  that  and  up  to  the  present  a  series  of  attempts  have  been 
made  to  confederate  the  Central  American  countries.  In  1824 
a  federal  constitution  establishing  the  Republic  of  Central 
America  was  proclaimed.  The  union  lasted  until  1839,  when 
it  was  dissolved,  notwithstanding  the  strenuous  efforts  of 
numerous  patriots  headed  by  General  Morazan. 

Guatemala  became,  on  the  i/th  of  April,  1839,  an  inde- 
pendent republic,  principally  through  the  efforts  of  Rafael 
Carrera,  who  was  proclaimed  dictator  on  the  I9th  of  March, 
1840,  elected  President  on  the  nth  of  December,  1844,  and 
President  for  life  on  the  2ist  of  October,  1854.  He  governed 
the  country  in  a  successful  manner  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  on  the  I4th"  of  April,  1865.  After  him  General 
Vicente  Cerna  was  elected  President,  and  followed  the  policy 
of  Carrera.  He  was  overthrown  in  1871  by  the  Liberal  party, 
led  by  General  Miguel  Garcia  Granados. 

61 


In  1873  he  was  succeeded  by  General  J.  Rufino  Barrios, 
whose  administration  was  very  successful.  He  was  killed  in 
1885  at  the  battle  of  Chalchuapa  while  attempting  to  establish 
by  force  a  Central  American  union.  From  1886  to  1892 
General  M.  L.  Barillas  was  President,  followed  by  General  J. 
M.  Reyna  Barrios  who,  after  bringing  his  country  into  a  heavy 
financial  and  economic  as  w-ell  as  political  crisis,  fell  at  the 
hands  of  a  murderer,  on  February  8th,  1898.  The  actual  pro- 
visional President  is  the  Licenciate,  M.  E.  Cabrera. 

Political  organization.  Guatemala  is  governed  by  a 
constitution  sanctioned  by  the  Constituent  Assembly  of  1879 
and  amended  in  1885.  Personal  liberty  is  guaranteed  by  this 
code  to  the  fullest  extent,  and  no  restrictions  of  any  kind  are 
placed  upon  the  exercise  of  freedom  of  conscience  and  opinion. 
Public  authorities  are  chosen  by  universal  suffrage.  Instruc- 
tion at  the  public  schools  is  free,  and  attendance  upon  them  is 
compulsory.  Military  service  is  likewise  obligatory,  but  ex- 
emption from  it  may  be  obtained  only  by  paying  a  certain 
amount  of  money. 

Foreigners  are  not  obliged  to  pay  any  special  imposts,  or 
forced  loans,  nor  are  they  liable  to  military  service  or  accept- 
ance of  public  employment.  Civil  marriage  is  established  in 
the  country,  and  public  registries  of  property,  births  and  deaths 
and  of  the  social  state  of  persons  are  kept  by  public  function- 
aries. 

The  legislative,  executive  and  judicial  jurisdictions  con- 
stitute the  government  of  the  country.  The  legislative  power 
is  vested  in  a  House  or  Assembly,  renewed  every  two  years 
by  halves.  This  Assembly  appoints  its  own  President,  Vice- 
President  and  Secretaries.  It  meets  on  the  ist  of  March  and 
its  sessions  last  two  months,  but  they  may  be  extended  for 
another  thirty  days.  Congress  may  also  be  summoned  to  extra 
sessions,  whenever  urgent  public  business  requires  it. 

Executive  power  is  vested  in  a  President  who  is  elected 
directly  by  the  people.  His  term  of  office  runs  for  six  years, 
and  he  is  not  eligible  to  succeed  himself.  He  is  assisted  by 
the  secretaries  of  six  departments,  who  in  some  cases  have 
a  consolidated  responsibility.  These  Secretaries  are  in  charge 
of  the  Departments  of  Foreign  Affairs,  Interior  Affairs  and 

62 


Justice,  Public  Works,  War,  the  Treasury,  and  Public  Instruc- 
tion. 

The  Judiciary  is  composed  of  a  Chief-Justice  and  a  Su- 
preme Court,  three  Appellate  Courts  in  the  Capital,  one  in 
Quezaltenango  and  another  in  Jalapa,  each  one  having  its 
own  Attorney-General.  There  are  five  courts  of  the  first 
instance  in  Guatemala,  three  in  Quezaltenango,  two  in  San 
Marcos  and  one  in  each  of  the  remaining  nineteen  Depart- 
ments. In  each  municipality  there  is  a  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

The  Council  of  State  is  an  auxiliary  body,  for  the  advice 
of  which  the  Government  may  call.  It  is  formed  of  nine  mem- 
bers, of  five  elected  by  the  Assembly,  and  of  four  appointed 
by  the  Executive. 

The  Assembly  appoints  a  permanent  commission,  which 
attends  to  all  matters  prescribed  by  the  law,  when  the  Assem- 
bly is  not  in  session. 

Each  municipal  territory  established  by  law  is  adminis- 
tered by  a  council  or  corporation. 

The  government  of  each  Department  is  exercised  by  a 
political  chief,  who  is  at  the  same  time  the  commander  of  the 
local  forces. 

After  the  Liberal  successes  of  1871  the  old  codes  were 
'displaced  by  others  more  in  accordance  with  the  requirements 
of  modern  times.  The  code  of  civil  and  criminal  procedure, 
and  also  the  fiscal,  military  and  commercial  codes  have  been 
sanctioned  and  promulgated. 

A  police  force  was  established  years  ago  in  Guatemala, 
Quezaltenango,  Chiquimula,  La  Antigua,  Jalapa,  Amatitlan, 
Totonicapan  and  Retalhuleu.  It  is  also  intended  to  establish 
a  force  of  rural  guards  for  the  highways. 

The  army  is  composed  of  about  500  commanding'  offi- 
cers, 3,263  officers  and  53.903  men. 


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